Chicago’s Art Institute reveals new look for European design wing

The Art Institute of Chicago is reopening its European design galleries on July 11, 2025, following an 18-month renovation by Barcelona-based architectural firm Barozzi Veiga, with the elegantly redesigned 4,500-square-foot space now showcasing more than 300 objects—40% more than previously displayed—spanning European design from 1600 to 1900.

Barozzi Veiga's Architectural Vision

Barozzi Veiga, established in 2004 in Barcelona by Fabrizio Barozzi and Alberto Veiga, has developed a distinctive architectural language characterized by clean volumes, precise proportions, and contextual sensitivity. The firm's approach often involves creating simple yet powerful forms that respond thoughtfully to their surroundings, as exemplified in projects like the Tanzhaus Zürich Cultural Center, where a tiered volume creates a new public space along the Limmat River while featuring triangular openings that give the dance school its distinctive identity.archdaily

The studio has garnered international recognition for its public and cultural buildings, with a portfolio spanning museums, auditoriums, and educational facilities across Europe and beyond. Their work demonstrates a consistent dialogue between contemporary design and historical context, seen in projects like the Bündner Kunstmuseum extension, which respectfully responds to the Palladian order of the original Villa Planta while maintaining its own formal autonomy. Recent projects include their first U.S. commission for Oolite Arts in Miami, featuring a village-like collection of rooms and vertical structures that balance public and private spaces, and two buildings for London's Design District with polished aluminum façades that reflect changing light conditions throughout the seasons.barozziveiga+2

300+ Objects on Display

The newly designed Eloise W. Martin Galleries showcase an impressive array of over 300 objects that highlight the economic, social, and technological forces shaping European design from 1600 to 1900. This expanded collection features:artic+1

• Rarely seen works, new acquisitions, and notable loans from private collectionsartic
• Transcultural pieces including a finely carved ebony and ivory chair from 1690s India, crafted for a European merchant with hidden details including an unfinished preparatory drawing on its backartic
• Exquisite Chinese porcelain, including rare red-glazed vases imported to Paris in the mid-1700s and mounted with gilded bronzeartic
• A striking neo-Gothic sideboard from mid-19th century England with witty wine-themed decorationsartic
• A dedicated area for the Art Institute's notable European ceramics collectionartic

Though designed for European patrons, many pieces reflect global influences and craftsmanship from artisans across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, illustrating the complex dynamics of colonial trade, industrialization, and cultural exchange during this transformative period.artic+1

Transcultural Design Elements

The reimagined European galleries reflect a significant shift in curatorial approach, moving away from traditional national or regional categorizations toward a more interconnected global narrative. This transcultural perspective acknowledges how European art and design were shaped by complex exchanges across continents, with objects embodying influences from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Rather than presenting European design as isolated or purely self-referential, the galleries highlight how artistic traditions flowed across borders, resulting in hybrid forms that challenge conventional art historical boundaries.metmuseum+3

• Objects demonstrate the fluidity of cultural exchange during a period of expanding global trade and colonizationglasstire
• Display techniques juxtapose works to reveal unexpected connections and challenge Eurocentric narrativeseuropeanculturalcentre+1
• Interpretive materials address complex histories of appropriation versus appreciation, acknowledging both creative exchange and power imbalancesposterhouse+1
• The installation invites visitors to consider how identity and cultural expression are shaped by transcultural encounters, reflecting contemporary understanding that artistic traditions are rarely isolated phenomenaartsartistsartwork+1