One of the Chicago Cultural Center’s largest exhibitions to date, “Morbid Curiosity: The Richard Harris Collection,” runs through July 8.
“Morbid Curiosity” showcases the eclectic selection of nearly 1,000 works of fine art, artifacts, massive installations and decorative objects. Harris, a resident of Riverwoods, Ill., has been an art collector for four decades.
The two major components of this exhibition are the “War Room,” highlighting the atrocities of war in notable works from the 17th century to present day in the 4th floor Exhibit Hall; and the “Kunstkammer of Death,” a modern-day “cabinet of curiosities” housed in the Sidney R. Yates Gallery, featuring a wide-ranging survey of mortality across cultures and spiritual traditions.
Additional highlights include works by artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Jasper Johns and Rembrandt; ethnographic artifacts; and a 13-foot-high chandelier made of 3,000 handcrafted plastic bones.
There will be a public reception Friday, Jan. 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the center, 78 E. Washington St.
Visit www.ChicagoCulturalCenter.org.