anish kapoor's 'bean' in chicago reopens to the public after a year of maintenance

anish kapoor’s cloud gate reopens in chicago

One of Chicago’s most renowned landmarks, Cloud Gate, famously known as ‘The Bean,’ is scheduled to reopen to the public by the end of June 2024. This iconic chrome sculpture by British-American artist Anish Kapoor has been closed for maintenance and structural updates since August 2023. The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events originally announced it would reopen in the spring, but as it turns out, visitors will be able to enjoy it again in the summer of 2024.

the ‘Bean’ by Anish Kapoor | image by George Bakos via Unsplash

Anticipated return of the ‘Bean’ at Millennium Park

The exact date for the reopening of the Bean has not yet been announced, but officials indicate it will be before July 2024. ‘Weather permitting, we expect to reopen the Plaza to the public before the end of the month,’ a spokesperson from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs told local news outlet WGN.

Officially known as Cloud Gate, the sculpture by Anish Kapoor (find more here) has been a centerpiece of Millennium Park since 2004. Since August 2023, it was closed off in order to allow crews to rebuild the plaza podium, replace pavers, and enhance accessibility with new stairs and ramps. Additionally, the plaza now features a new waterproofing system, according to the spokesperson.

image by Mevlüt Şahin via Unsplash

image via @dirty_corner

image via @dirty_corner

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project info: 

name: Cloud Gate
artist: Anish Kapoor | @dirty_corner
location: Millenium Park, Chicago