The Picasso image

The Picasso

Tourist attraction Sculpture

One of the Most Reviewed Sculptures in Chicago


Address

50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States

Website

www.cityofchicago.org

Contact

+1 312-744-5000

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (881 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Monday: (Washington's Birthday), Open 24 hours, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Chicago (28) Picasso (25) sculpture (21) Daley (12) plaza (9) public (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Raymia P. 3 years ago on Google
    Fascinating by that beautiful masterpiece, from far away you can actually see it, no words can describe how intriguing it is . The tree represents a tribute to homicide. Each pins represents a lost live Tree of Remembrance Never Forget Chicago
    27 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 BradJill 10 months ago on Google • 4377 reviews
    Chicago Picasso is a landmark sculpture by Pablo Picasso (1967). Located at Daly Plaza, it is a 15 metre tall Cubist sculpture that from the sides seems to be just fragmented sheets of metal. However, when viewed directly in front, resembles the head of an Afghan Hound. It is an interesting public artwork worth spending a few minutes to enjoy if you plan to be in the downtown area and enjoy art and monument viewing during your travels.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Augster O. 2 years ago on Google
    Whenever I’m in Chicago, I stop by the Picasso. It’s free. It’s easy to find. It’s weird. We were here the day of the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Just like in the Fugitive with Harrison Ford. Spoiler for a 30-year old movie: He evades Tommy Lee Jones as he shuffled across the plaza in front of the Picasso and blends into the St. Pats parade to escape. While the parade no longer goes down a street adjacent to the Picasso, (did it ever or was that Hollywood?) the Picasso is still in the same place. You can reenact the Harrison Ford getaway shuffle all you’d like in the plaza. Walk in the footsteps of one of the best actors ever. All that, and there’s a cool Picasso to look at. Stop by. It’s free.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dawang W. 1 year ago on Google • 582 reviews
    Love the installation art here! The plaza is also very enjoyable during summer, and Chicago usually has the Christmas market village here during winter. It’s right in the loop and close to millennium park, making it a perfect stop when people come to the loop. (Follow me on IG ➡️ miss_dawang)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jay F. 2 years ago on Google
    Great iconic public art piece. Be sure to walk all the way around it.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elyse W. 11 months ago on Google • 306 reviews
    Stark, but interesting sculpture in this large public plaza. Ample photo ops! That said, we passed it so many times without seeing it because we were focused on the memorial flame on the east edge of the plaza. Well, that's what keeps the city fascinating, right?!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin 1 year ago on Google • 207 reviews
    Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza. Unveiled in 1967, much to the Mayor's chagrin. I like this now popular, yet somehow still "unusual" landmark. One of Picasso's largest sculptures, 50 feet tall and 147 tons, and it's in Chicago. I like it! Weird, cool, huge... silently watching.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tim L. 1 year ago on Google • 108 reviews
    This landmark provides a break from the skyscrapers all around. You can sometimes see kids climbing on it. Not entirely sure if that’s allowed, but no one stopped them.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ivan L. 1 year ago on Google • 403 reviews
    Interesting Picasso in downtown Chicago. It's a Picasso, yes, but honestly, I don't dig it. Chicago has so much beauty in architecture and art to enjoy and appreciate, and this sculpture is still worth seeing when in Chicago, but it's just not one of my favorites.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James H. 5 months ago on Google • 609 reviews
    Nice piece of public art, worth exploring various viewing angles around it.

  • 5/5 Tenny K. 1 year ago on Google • 174 reviews
    Huge landmark. There’s benches in the left of the statue. I came on Tuesday noon and almost no one there, so nice to capture some pics
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 J. C. 9 months ago on Google
    Iconic piece of public art in the Chicago business district. It’s a shame they parked food trucks all around it so you can’t appreciate the art in its full glory.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Diana G. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a Chicago icon. Every one needs to get a chance to check this out. Every time we have a friend from out of town that comes to visit us, I make sure we drive past so they can see it and they always get excited seeing this in person. It is always fun to see the reaction on their faces when they see this work of art that they have only seen in movies, TV shows. commercials, pictures, etc. It has to be one of my most favorite things to do when I am playing the role of the Chicago tour guide for family, friends, and business associates that do not live in the Chicago area to have the opportunity to show them this as I showcase many iconic and truly "Chicago" landmarks.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrew M. 7 months ago on Google • 64 reviews
    A Chicago icon. Pop quiz: What's the name of the statue? Answer: It doesn't have one! Be sure to take your out of towner friends to go see this at the Daley Center.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eddie S. 1 year ago on Google
    I’m not sure why there is controversy, when looked at from the appropriate angle it is the silhouette of a beautiful woman. It is quite obvious and striking when you see it but you can’t really be too close to it to see the true image and also you have to be positioned at just the right angle. But come on I can’t be the only one walking around Chicago that figured this out!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jim P. 2 years ago on Google
    Standing 50 feet tall and weighing over 160 tons, the Chicago Picasso in Daley Plaza is much more than just artwork to Chicagoans. The untitled Picasso sculpture that originally sparked controversy in the city has now become one of Chicago’s most famous sculptures and beloved icons. The Chicago Picasso was commissioned in 1963 by the architects of the Richard J. Daley Center to anchor the plaza on the east side of the building. Most public art in large cities at this time was calm and stoic, mainly depicting historical figures, but in the 1960s, architecture in American cities began to reflect the many cultural and modern changes taking place throughout the country. The Daley Center’s architects decided to commission the renowned Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, to create a monumental sculpture for their plaza. Picasso worked on this commission for two years, combining and modifying sketches and motifs from some of his earlier works in the design of the sculpture. This resulted in a 42-inch tall maquette, or model, of the sculpture. Both the maquette and sketches of the sculpture may be seen today at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Chicago Picasso is built of Cor-Ten steel, the same material as the exterior of the Daley Center, and was assembled not far from Chicago at the U.S. Steel Company in Gary, Indiana. On August 15, 1967, thousands of people gathered in Daley Plaza to witness the unveiling and dedication of the city’s newest piece of public art. In his dedication letter, Picasso gave the sculpture as a gift to the people of Chicago, without ever explaining what the sculpture was intended to represent.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Volodymyr M. 5 months ago on Google • 98 reviews
    The beautiful and colorful Picasso-style monumental exposition has a beautiful urban ensemble with the site, the square and the city architecture. Also on the square where the monument is located, next to it, a market of fresh vegetables, fruits , flowers and various products of local producers and farmers is organized from morning till lunch. A pleasant space

  • 5/5 John D. 1 year ago on Google
    Thr Art Institute's Lions, “the bean”, and Picasso's famous sculpture are “the big three” of Chicago’s landmarks. The fact that this fine work of modern art graces the plaza in front of the Daley Center always brings a smile to old time residents since it's well know that "hizz honna da mayor" was no fan of modern art. But both mayor Daley the first and his son, mayor Daley the second, realized the importance of a vibrant downtown. The elder Daley embraced modern architecture and this lovely "untitled" beauty looks great placed in front of his namesake building.

  • 4/5 Danley T. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting sculpture. It was blocked off due to some festival going on (which was not open yet as we arrived in the morning). One of the guards was nice enough to point out Miro's statue across the street.

  • 5/5 Tina J. 5 years ago on Google
    The area of this iconic sculpture is in downtown Chicago,Il. You can feel the history as you stand in front of it. There is a huge plaza where you can sit down and there is a small water feature. Its located across the street from " block 37" which has a nice mall with restaurants and even a movie theater.

  • 5/5 Kirstjen L. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place to sit outside and get some sunshine and fresh air during a long day at the office.

  • 5/5 Francis L. 1 year ago on Google
    Picasso’s exhibit in a downtown square, Daley Plaza, titled “Untitled”.

  • 5/5 Ayden S. 1 year ago on Google
    Um not much here but there was a nice statue and there was a waterfall and we got to chase the pigeons but anyways it’s a great place to take a breath

  • 2/5 Napoleon S. 1 year ago on Google
    As a resident, I can say first hand that it can be the best and worst place. Winter season is great for Kris Kindle market after December it's fairly desolate. Summer season it becomes a homeless shelter, the benches are filled with homeless people staying for the duration of the night. I noticed, that maintenence is always powerwashing the pavement...but I have yet to see them EVER power wash the concrete benches.

  • 5/5 Reflections of a simple m. 4 years ago on Google
    Heard about this ‘Untitled By Picasso’ which quietly guards the Chicago loop -while reading Mike Royko’s ‘One more time- The best of Mike Royko’. His interpretation of this sculpture was so interesting that I had to see this sculpture. Marking the cultural rebirth of Chicago, the sculpture was a gift from Pablo Picasso and was unveiled in 1967. Artist Picasso himself never interpreted this sculpture, making this art work interesting. Every year the annual Christkindlmarkt is guarded by this Picasso sculpture.

  • 3/5 E M. 1 year ago on Google
    I heard years ago that it was supposed to be a woman. To me it looked like an anteater. It's grown on me though. It has some interesting shapes and textures. I don't hate it anymore.

  • 5/5 Skib Nub M. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent rendering by Picasso. This is mentioned in one of the greatest movies set in the city of Chicago, The Blues Brothers. In other movies that is shown, however, my favorite is when it is mentioned by Jake Blues. We all need to say a little prayer that the mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot does not steal this statue or sculpture also. Keep an eye on her.

  • 5/5 Tony B. 2 years ago on Google
    Fun very spacious open area to run around n have fun

  • 5/5 Wendy B. 2 years ago on Google
    Picasso was great and his art is awesome 👌

  • 5/5 Raven 2 years ago on Google
    Looks like a horse or girraphe to me. I don't like his eyes 👀 they see too much

  • 5/5 Andrea A. 2 years ago on Google
    Cool to be able to touch and be o close to. Picasso


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Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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