When most travelers think about airport activities, “exploring world-class art” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Midway International Airport (MDW), that’s exactly what’s waiting.
Together, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) maintain a stunning public art collection spanning both airports, featuring works by more than 30 diverse international, national, and local artists across more than 70 permanent installations. Rotating exhibitions keep the experience fresh on every visit.
So, visitors should keep their eyes open upon arrival — the artwork is impressive, and it’s one more way Chicago’s airports set the tone before travelers even reach downtown.
Here are some can’t-miss highlights to look for on a trip through Chicago.
O’Hare International Airport
The Dino, O’Hare Terminal 1
Near Gate B8 sits one of the most beloved airport residents in the country: a 72-foot-long, four-story cast of a Brachiosaurus skeleton on loan from the Field Museum. See which Chicago team she’s repping in her seasonal sports jersey.
Sky’s the Limit, O’Hare’s “disco tunnel”
Connecting Concourses B and C, this 744-foot-long kinetic neon sculpture by Michael Hayden wraps travelers in waves of color set to music of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” — a luminous experience that’s mesmerized passengers for nearly four decades.
REACH, O’Hare’s Multi-Modal Facility
Look up in the North Escalator Hall for REACH, a monumental sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas and Coby Kennedy. Two iridescent arms, roughly 27 and 31 feet long, extend overhead like a gesture of welcome.
And there’s more at O’Hare
The art at O’Hare goes far beyond what’s covered here. Terminal 2 honors aviator Bessie Coleman alongside a portrait series celebrating senior military veterans. In Terminal 5, look for Skywalkers by Wills Glasspiegel and Push Pull by Faheem Majeed.
Midway International Airport
Rara Avis, Midway Ticketing Lobby
Thousands of hanging pewter aircraft elements form the image of a cardinal, which is Illinois’ state bird. This 13-foot sculpture by Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schecter is a fusion of natural and manmade flight.
South Side Pride mural, Midway pedway
Spanning 13,600 square feet, the Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff mural celebrates Chicago White Sox baseball history on the walk to the CTA Orange Line, making for a quintessentially Chicago send-off.
Battle of Midway Memorial, Concourse A Hall
One of the airport’s most visited attractions, this exhibit honors the namesake battle through photographs, personal narratives, and a Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft suspended overhead.
And there’s more at Midway
Don’t miss Dawoud Bey’s Chicago Couples murals celebrating neighborhood diversity, or Bob Thall’s photographic series capturing the Chicago River through the Loop.
Whether connecting through ORD or departing from MDW, build in a few extra minutes to look around. Explore the full collections at O’Hare and Midway.
