Fine Arts Building | Home | Chicago's artist haven since 1898.

Second Fridays

Explore the Fine Arts Building during our monthly open artist studios event to discover the creativity and history throughout all ten floors of the Fine Arts Building.

Upcoming Events

Experience the musicals, comedy shows, concerts, dance, puppetry, opera, and more at the majestic Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building.

Our History

From the 19th century to today, the Fine Arts Building is the heartbeat of arts and culture in America, home to music schools, literary clubs – and social, political, and cultural movements.

The Studebaker Theater presents Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol!

Experience true holiday magic this season as the Studebaker Theater and Fine Arts Building co-present a limited run of Manual Cinema’s stunning Christmas Carol.

Visit the Directory

Tenant Directory

Discover the tenants of the Fine Arts Building - musicians, architects, dancers, artists, puppeteers, booksellers, luthiers, and much more - who make this building a home for art in all forms.

Visit The Fine Arts Building

The Fine Arts Building

Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA

Join Our Mailing List

Keep up to date about performances, events, open studios, and more at the Fine Arts Building by signing up for our mailing list.

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Did you know that in 1908, Frank Lloyd Wright desi

Did you know that in 1908, Frank Lloyd Wright designed an art gallery in the Fine Arts Building? The W. Scott Thurber Art Galleries, located on the 5th floor, were renowned for introducing Chicago to early modernist paintings from Europe. Visitors would have wandered through the natural-light filled galleries to admire not only the artwork, but also Wright’s custom oak chairs, benches, and portfolio screens for viewing. The Thurber Galleries closed in 1917, and Wright’s work was likely removed shortly thereafter.

Today, this space is home to the workshops and showroom of William Harris Lee & Co., makers and dealers of fine string instruments.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #franklloydwright #franklloydwrightdesign #franklloydwrightarchitecture #artgallery #artgallerys #chicagoartgallery #historymonday #chitecture #chicagoarchitecture #chiarchitecture #chicagolandmark

Now on view: the Fine Arts Building Group Show in

Now on view: the Fine Arts Building Group Show in the Second Floor Gallery. Stop by to enjoy these inspired pieces by Fine Arts Building artists!

#fineartsbuildingchicago #fineartsbuilding #chicagoart #chicagoartist #chicagoartists #artexhibit #artexhibition #artexhibitions #chicagogallery #chicagogalleries #groupshow #groupshows

Happy Theater Thursday! This month, we’re thrill

Happy Theater Thursday! This month, we’re thrilled to welcome Dog Man: The Musical back to the Studebaker Theater due to popular demand! Don’t miss this hilarious production based on the worldwide bestselling series from Dav Pilkey, running only until December 1.

Fetch your tickets now!

📸 Photo of the 24/25 touring company by Jeremy Daniel

#dogman #dogmanmusical #davpilkey #chicagotheatre #dogmanthemusical #musicaltheater #musicaltheatre #fineartsbuildingchicago #fineartsbuilding #studebakertheater

We love this beautiful postcard of the Fine Arts B

We love this beautiful postcard of the Fine Arts Building, Auditorium Building, and Congress Hotel, as seen from Grant Park ca. 1910. All dating from the late 19th century, these buildings are excellent examples of Chicago's early skyscrapers and make up one of the most historic stretches in Chicago. We love our neighbors!

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #chicagobuilding #chicagobuildings #chicagoarchitecture #chiarchitecture #chitecture #postcard #postcards #historicpostcard #chicagohistory #chicagolandmark #chicagolandmarks #auditoriumtheatre #congressplazahotel

It's our favorite night of the month! Join us for

It's our favorite night of the month! Join us for our Second Fridays open studios tonight from 5:00 - 9:00 to explore the Fine Arts Building and meet the incredible artists working here. Free and open to the public!

Some of the special events tonight include:
- The Second Floor Gallery opens the Fine Arts Building group show, a new exhibition
- The Center for Mad Culture hosts an opening reception for their Dunning Exhibition, delving into the history of Cook County's Insane Asylum
- Chicago Opera Theater hosts a special performance of Puccini-inspired songs, featuring soprano Hayley Fox and pianist Paula Gelpi
- And much more!

We can't wait to see you tonight!

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #openstudios #artiststudio #artiststudios #studiovisit #studiovisits #chicagoartist #chicagoartists #chicagoartistry #chicagolandmark #chicagolandmarks

It's Election Day! Make sure to get out and vote t

It's Election Day! Make sure to get out and vote today. Head to chicagoelections.gov to find your polling place!

Photo: Curtiss Hall, ca. 1940s. Courtesy of the Chicago Historical Society.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #election #electionday #election2024 #vote

Experience the true holiday magic of Manual Cinema

Experience the true holiday magic of Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol this holiday season at the Studebaker Theater! Playing for a limited engagement from December 13 - 29. Tickets on sale now — don’t miss this stunning show!

#studebakertheater #manualcinema #christmascarol #holidayshow #holidayseason #fineartsbuilding #ticketsonsale #chicagotheater #chicagotheatre

Did you know you can show your love for Chicago ar

Did you know you can show your love for Chicago art with our Fine Arts Building merch? Tote bags, t-shirts, keychains, and more now available for purchase online at fineartsbuilding.com!

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #merch #merchdrop #merchandise #merchdesign #chicagoart #chicagoarts #chicagoartist #chicagoartists #chicagoartscene #chicagobuilding #chicagobuildings #chicagolandmark #chicagolandmarks #totebag #totebags #totebagdesign

Tonight’s the night! Manual Cinema’s Frankenst

Tonight’s the night! Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein opens in the Studebaker Theater and runs this weekend only! With a limited run of only 4 performances and seats going fast, make sure you get here before it’s gone! We’re looking forward to celebrating a spooky weekend with you 🎥💀⚡️

#frankenstein #halloween #chicagohalloween #halloweekend #fineartsbuilding #studebakertheater #manualcinema #manualcinemafrankenstein #fineartsbuildingchicago #chicagotheater #chicagotheatre #openingnight

The details of the Fine Arts Building. These eleva

The details of the Fine Arts Building. These elevators welcomed over 5,500 visitors this weekend for Open House Chicago with @chiarchitecture — we had such a great time sharing all of our artists’ creativity with you!

#chicagoarchitecture #chiarchitecture #chitecture #chicagobuildings #chicagolandmark #openhousechicago #fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago

This weekend, join us for Open House Chicago with

This weekend, join us for Open House Chicago with the Chicago Architecture Center! We'll have our doors open and welcoming to explore all 10 floors of history, creativity, and magic! Plus, discover the incredible artists working here today. We're looking forward to hosting you, Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #openhousechicago #chicagoarchitecture #chicagoarchitecturecenter #chiarchitecture #chitecture #chicagobuilding #chicagobuildings #chicagolandmark #chicagolandmarks #openhouse #openstudio #openstudios

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day from the Fine Arts Bu

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day from the Fine Arts Building! This day allows us to honor and celebrate the cultural diversity, heritage, and contributions of indigenous communities worldwide.

The Fine Arts Building stands on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also historically called this area home. We recommend taking some time today to learn more about Indigenous cultures, their history, and their essential role in things like environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, and societal development.

We hope you all enjoy the holiday!

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #chicagobuilding #chicagobuildings #chicagoarchitecture #indigenouspeoplesday #chiarchitecture

Due to popular demand, we have added an additional

Due to popular demand, we have added an additional performance of Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein at the Studebaker Theater! Get your tickets before they’re gone at the link in our bio, and we’ll see you for this magically haunting show October 25 - 27. 🎥

@manual_cinema

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #studebakertheater #chicagotheatre #chicagotheater #manualcinema #frankenstein #chicagohalloween #halloween #halloweenshow #spookyseason

History Monday! Pictured here is the Fine Arts Bui

History Monday! Pictured here is the Fine Arts Building, flanked by a Grant Park fountain, in approximately 1948.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #studebakertheater #chicagoarchitecture #chiarchitecture #chitecture #chicagobuilding #chicagobuildings #chicagolandmark #chicagohistory

Next Friday! Join us for the Fine Arts Building Op

Next Friday! Join us for the Fine Arts Building Open Mic during our Second Fridays event. Free and open to the public! Sign up from 5:00-7:00, with performances starting at 7:30 in the Little Studio. Bring your artistry to the Fine Arts Building! 🎤

Hosted by Suhaib Qasim @suhaibqsm

#openmic #openmicnight #openmics #fineartsbuildingchicago #fineartsbuilding #openstudio #openstudios #freeevent #freeevents #openmicchicago

We are one week away from opening night for Leonor

We are one week away from opening night for Leonora, presented by Chicago Opera Theater! Rehearsals are under way in Curtiss Hall for this North American premiere of Ferdinando Paër’s beautiful opera. Don’t miss this gripping story of a woman’s unyielding bravery as she risks everything to rescue her wrongfully imprisoned husband.

Playing October 1-6 at the Studebaker Theater. Tickets at the link in our bio.

Photos courtesy of @chicagooperatheater

#opera #operatheatre #operatheater #paer #leonora #studebakertheater #chicagoopera #operasinger #fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago

This weekend in the Studebaker Theater! See the re

This weekend in the Studebaker Theater! See the renowned PARA.MAR Dance Theatre as they present / v . anthology /, the culmination of their fifth season, featuring an exclusive collection of works curated by founder and director Stephanie Martinez with renowned choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Xavier Nuñez, Hélène Simoneau, and Yin Yue.

Only two performances on September 20 and 21! Tickets at the link in our bio.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #studebakertheater #paramar #paramardance #chicagodance #chicagodancer #chicagodancers #chicagodancecommunity #dancetheater #dancetheatre

Join Fine Arts Building tenants @chicagooperatheat

Join Fine Arts Building tenants @chicagooperatheater in the Studebaker Theater on October 1, 4, and 6 as they present the North American Premiere of Leonora.

Composer: Ferdinando Paër
Librettists: Giuseppe Maria Foppa and Giacomo Cinti

Leonora is based on a deeply moving, true story that took place in France in the 18th century that revolves around a young woman who disguises herself as a man and under the name of Fidelio to rescue her wrongfully imprisoned husband.

Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Leonora will be the first fully staged production in the world to use the new critical edition of the score, recently prepared by Bärenreiter. Dame Jane Glover returns to COT to lead the new production, which will be directed by Lawrence Edelson in his debut with the company. The cast features soprano Vanessa Becerra as Leonora, tenor Edgardo Rocha as Florestano, soprano Keely Futterer as Marcellina, tenor Matthew Pearce as Don Pizzarro, baritone Joo Won Kang as Rocco, bass baritone Alex Soare as Giacchino, and tenor Kameron Alston as Don Fernando.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #studebakertheater #chicagoopera #chicagooperatheater #leonora #opera #operasinger #operatheater #operatheatre #chicagotheater #chicagotheatre

History Monday: the Fine Arts Building, ca. 1927.

History Monday: the Fine Arts Building, ca. 1927. One of our favorite details in this photo is the miniature gardens hanging from the second story windowsills! An incredible look back at the Michigan Ave that existed nearly 100 years ago.

#fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #chicagohistory #historicbuilding #historicbuildings #historicarchitecture #chicagoarchitecture #chiarchitecture #chitecture #studebakertheater

A new art exhibition opens in the Little Studio Se

A new art exhibition opens in the Little Studio September 13 - 14, featuring stunningly realistic drawings with a fresh perspective on things that we may see and use in everyday life. Read on for a message from the artist, and visit this weekend!

"Hello! I am Sarah KAYODE. I know it’s been a while. I’ve been working on a show for the past one year. I called it ‘HOPE.’ I made this show to show how resilient we are as people. I think being human is a great, but sometimes difficult doesn’t describe how hard it can get. I hope with this show, people who are going through dark times will feel encouraged and a little bit of hope. And if you are in a good space, it’s also for you. You can enjoy being surrounded by lots of beauty 😉 and be a part of the community. I hope you can make it."

#chicagoartshow #chicagoart #chicagofineart #chicagoartgallery #localchicagoart #localchicagoartists #hope #mentalhealthawareness #fineartsbuilding #fineartsbuildingchicago #secondfridays #openstudios #chicagoartist #artiststudio #artiststudios #openstudiodays

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