CHICAGO, IL.- The Art Institute of Chicago unveils a newly imagined and installed gallery for the arts of Korea on November 1, 2024. The new installation is the first fully dedicated space to this cultural region at the Art Institute, and provides an opportunity to showcase more of the expansive collection.

The arts of Korea collection at the museum comprises approximately 300 works spanning 2,000 years from the Three Kingdoms until today. Some of these works have never been exhibited previously, but with the expanded gallery, upgraded display cases, and innovative lighting, there will be a rotation of 60 objects on view at any given time, allowing visitors to see more of this collection than ever before.

“This is an exciting opportunity to broaden and enhance the presentation of Korean art here in Chicago,” said Yeonsoo Chee, Associate Curator of Korean Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. “Visitors will be able to experience objects they may not be familiar with or have never been on view before, and the thematic presentations will help visitors better engage with the collection and understand this beautiful culture.”

Throughout the new gallery space, six themes introduce Korea’s long and rich history as well as its religious, political, and material cultures. The first section introduces objects that were made to help understand and spread the teachings of the Buddha. The centerpiece, an 18th-century Buddha statue, is on view for the first time in more than 100 years after extensive conservation treatment. A section devoted to celadon and tea culture provides a glimpse into the practice of tea ceremonies during the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). The remaining three sections focus on how material culture responded to a major ideological, political, and cultural shift during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) as seen in the creation of stoneware known as buncheong, elegant white porcelain, among other objects. The new installation also includes select contemporary works that meaningfully engage with traditional forms and materials.

To mark the gallery’s opening, the space presents a special viewing of two stunning gold objects—a crown and a pendant as well as a belt from the Silla kingdom period (about 57 BCE –676 BCE). These objects have been designated as Treasures by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea and are on loan from the National Museum of Korea through early February 2025.

The installation is curated by Yeonsoo Chee, associate curator of Korean art, Arts of Asia.