It’s a busy month for the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago. On Thursday the institution announced two major milestones in its 50-year history: the unveiling of its Johnston Marklee–redesigned building and the opening of a new dining destination, Marisol, replete with an immersive installation by artist Chris Ofili.
A $16 million project, Johnston Marklee's revamp honors the integrity of Josef Paul Kleihues’s original 1996 design and includes three new spaces across 12,000 square feet: a social engagement space called the Commons, a floor of classrooms and meeting spaces, and the brand new Marisol restaurant. Chicago chef Jason Hammel, known for his beloved Lula Café, will be the culinary force behind Marisol, for which he has created a menu that highlights local farming. The restaurant is itself a canvas for Ofili’s expressive artwork and will feature a site-specific mural, glass etchings, and line drawings on the wall, all conceived by the artist himself.
"This is not simply putting work from the collection on our walls," says museum director Madeleine Grynsztejn. "This is a full-scale, all-in, immersive art environment that surrounds you when you enter into the restaurant." Art, food, and design, all rolled into one? Sounds like a sure hit.
