The Art Institute of Chicago has recently opened a new modern wing, designed by Renzo Piano. The style of architecture is in itself a form of art, adding 264,000 square feet of floor space to the already spacious museum. The third floor contains many spotlights to better accent the pre-1945 modernist art. There are a myriad of famous names, including Joan Miró, Matisse, and Picasso. The suite of galleries on the second floor is devoted to art since the 1960's, showing an infusion of Pop art and surrealism. This expansion has really made the Art Institute a destination spot for art aficionados, with a larger modern collection then the Met. It gives an expansive survey in modern art styles, and incorporates famous names and up and comers in the new collections. Join discussion...

This article published in the New York Times on December 4, 2008 was written by Edward Wyatt and JORI FINKEL. It talks about how ten years ago, LA's Museum of Contemporary Art appointed a classically trained curator to ensure that art rather than business would be kept at the forefront. However, by putting money at the bottom of the to-do list, the museum put itself in a financial hole, having its endowment shrink to about $6 million from nearly $50 million in 1999. Click to read more. Join discussion...