Intuit Art Museum

Lovely space, cool art, great gift shop. We went for the Henry Darger exhibit, & it exceeded expectations.

Wonderful exhibitions, beautifully curated! I appreciated the "heavy hitters" in the first room off the gift shop (which is replete with actual art), the animated Darger and the subtlety of the didactic's corners that gave a poetic nod to the unspoken work of our Im/migrant peers. !!.. at least that's how I read into it. Cheers and congrats on the expansion. The social studio is a lovely place to gather to make work together! I shall return and tell everyone in earshot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Intuit Art Museum is a refreshing reminder that you don’t need an MFA—or even a straight line—to make art that matters. Every corner of the place whispers, “Yes, your uncle’s basement sculptures do belong in a museum, if only he’d commit harder.” The exhibits are unapologetically eccentric: a shrine to the unexpected, where found objects become masterpieces and doodles feel like divine revelations. It’s the only museum where I leave thinking, “Maybe that pile of bottle caps in my kitchen is actually a commentary on late-stage capitalism.” The space itself is cozy, intimate, and slightly chaotic—perfectly aligned with the art it champions. Five stars for making me question whether I’m an untapped creative genius or just someone with a very cluttered garage. Would recommend to anyone tired of staring at oil paintings of stern men in wigs.

Very eclectic collection. Staff were friendly and I liked the setup of the museum!

We have been wanting to visit this museum for years and finally got to check it out. We bought tickets online for $5 each, and it was an easy process. When we arrived a man told us about the exhibits. The museum is small, with a small gift shop and a few galleries. We spent about an hour looking at the paintings and photographs. There was a video viewing area with easy chairs and complimentary coffee, tea, and water. You could press a button to select a video to watch. There were about 10 to choose from they were all very interesting. The videos were created with a handheld camera, so please be aware if you are prone to motion sickness. Great museum, will be back!

Wonderful small art museum, well worth a visit. Recently expanded with some very cool exhibits

Excellent small museum which focuses on outsider art and is the only one that does across the US. Visit and learn about Henry Darger's past and artwork and visit the room that he lived in for years. Certainly a great space amd a great find in the city.

Great little museum with plenty of local history. Even the gift shop is full of work from local artists for purchase. No wait at all when I went. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

Good museum for those who like to look at art but without spending a whole lot of time looking at it. Intuit is a pretty small place that's more like an art gallery than a museum. Mostly photography but there's some other interesting objects. Just pay a few bucks to look around. There's some pretty creative and interesting kinds of things. A place like this makes it hard to know a museum is here. It has a pretty nondescript entrance through a door on the side of a factory or warehouse of some kind. This is located on Ogden at Milwaukee. Has a pretty simple layout. It's $5 admission, which is pretty worth it truthfully. Has a large photography collection. There's also various collections and sculptures. Lots of other media such as films. The majority though is photography. A lot of it's by Ted Degener, who photographed quirky roadside attractions. These photographs feature the owner of these strange but fun places. Has a lot of things to check out to be honest. It's good for fans of photography. There's other things like painted hats and whatever. Get

Very nice small museum displaying art from outsiders - those who don't have formal training and are not known or appreciated by the mainstream, yet. Entrance is only $5. It's a good one hour stop.

We learned about this place while perusing the Atlas Obscura website in search of off-the-beaten-path cultural opportunities during our week in Chicago, and a place to get away from the crowds at the Art Institute or the other more popular locations around the city. It was certainly worth the effort. You're not likely to stumble across the museum by accident. It's located in an evolving commercial/industrial area that now is home to several residences, and businesses that cater to this community are starting to emerge. The museum is not prominently marked, and it wasn't until we were directly in front of the door that we realized that we had arrived. As the museum name very clearly states, this is a niche museum for alternative art. Of course, it's kinda hard to define exactly what is meant by that, as artistic expression is broad and there probably isn't really anyting that could be called "insider" art. Admission is a very modest $5 per person. The museum itself is really just two rooms - a large front room and a smaller one in the back. We expected to be in and out in less than half an hour, but the main exhibit during our visit was rather fascinating and we ended up staying for over two hours. Currently, the featured exhibit consists of photographs by Ted Degener, who traveled across the country to visit local artists in situ to document their works. Many of these artists could arguably be called eccentric - for example, there's they guy who created art with a bunch of empty beer cans. For me, it was an interesting internal debate about when does something become "art" rather than the bizarre creation of a local oddball. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The exhibit goes until early September 2023. Highly recommended.

AMAZING SPACE.. the artist are always new, innovative and creatively displayed. This gallery is a space for community love, gatherings, collaborative art history and sharing. They have a small store tucked to side with reasonably priced artisan pieces.. also a small lil quant bar in the adjacent room.. AND THAT SUSANN CRAIG IS WALKING ART HERSELF!!ove love love this place/ SPACE!

I happened back across this great hidden gem while killing time before my dental appointment, so happy I tried the door and it opened. Not big in space but big in heart, the dedication to the Outsider Art well worth the nominal $5 suggested donation.

Incredible! A glimpse into how unschooled artists express themselves and especially how the life of Henry Darger was captured and preserved so meticulously. My God! Who would even know this man even existed but for this museum! And Lee Godie, who used to try to sell us her stuff as we passed her at the Water Tower Park. She was going portraits for twenty bucks near the end but here her best works are preserved and exalted to the level she always deserved. This is art that makes you curious as to the mental state of the artist whereas schooled, beautiful art hides the creator. Anyone who appreciates art should not only visit this wonderful Oasis of the Mundane, but become a supporting member as well (it's cheap folks).

First time visiting and I'm convinced I'll need an annual membership here. Their covid protocols were TOP NOTCH- very organized spacing of visitors and respectful of personal boundaries. Art was fascinating and thought provoking. Did a first date here and it was a perfect spot! Small gallery so didn't take more than an hour or so. Staff were very knowledgeable and answered ALL of my questions with added insight. We will be returning.

This gallery is an absolute gem. I have been fortunate enough to see multiple shows here, and they have all been wonderful.

Excellent collection. This is definitely my kind of art. I love reading the artist statements and information. This is artwork from people who may not regularly be able to show their art and that is the best part. The love put into each work of art is evident. This is not a huge museum, but it is full of great art. I will be back many, many times.

Love the theme of Outsider Art. The Henry Darger exhibit was interesting but I most enjoyed the art made by the convict using jail-house available ingredients. I bought a beautiful necklace there. Admittance is a $5 suggested donation - it's a great deal!

Small dainty art museum around the corner of Chicago blue line stop. I presume the small space makes room for three exhibits per season. Excellent choice for a first date as means of good conversation and get to know one another. As the place is small and quiet, it's not overwhelming with art work--just enough to chat, admire artwork and chat some more.

Art.org - that's their web address. Yep, they must have gotten that early on. Good foresight by someone. I love museums and galleries. And I really love "Outsider Art", even though I don't really understand it. I was delighted when I found this place in Chicago. Its not large, but it uses space well. Outsider Art is also called Folk Art by many, but the "new" name Outsider Art seems to be the trend. Outsider art is usually used to refer to self taught artists, and those working outside of the "main stream" of the art world. Grandma Moses is a famous, perhaps the first famous, "Outsider Artist", although she was branded a Folk Artist. Many outsider artistes are considered to be mentally challenged, and some may be, but just as many are not, they are simply self taught, they may hide their work, they may work with unusual subjects or mediums etc. As one of their permanent collection "items" they have the Henry Darger Room - a replica of the room where Henry lived (a one room apt) for decades, until he went to a nursing home. the collection includes (from website) "tracings, clippings from newspapers, magazines, comic books, cartoons, children's books, coloring books, personal documents, and architectural elements, fixtures, and furnishings from Darger's original room." Standing in the doorway of this room is amazing,. He used every space imaginable for his work, which include a 15,000 page fantasy storybook found after his death, which seems to be what really "put him on the map" art wise. He was a talented artist and storywriter, but he made a living as a custodian, and was more or less a recluse. This room alone is worth a visit to the Museum. But they do have more, including a large meeting room, where they give lectures and hold receptions and the like. Their permanent collection houses pieces by many different artists, and they have shows often. When I was there, there were paintings, painted chairs, and other things in-between. In addition they have a research room where you can look up all sorts of artists and their work. They offer workshops for those who are interested. This small museum is worth a visit. Entrance fee is $5, free for members, and they are part of the "Museum Exchange" if you are a member of, for example, the Albright Knox. But its worth the $5. They have a gift ship unlike any other I have seen. The items for sale are made by various artists and many are usable, I bought a wine holder as both a gift and "conversation piece" for someone. They have decorated clothing. Interesting postcards. Its really nice. Parking here is street, and you may have to walk a block or two. But its worth it. (Review 425)

Great museum that exhibits outsider art. There aren't many places like this. The gift shop offers handmade artwork.

Small, hidden gem right off the blue line. Each art piece was as interesting and made me delve into the minds who of these "outsider" artists. Luckily, the museum was not packed when I went so I could take my time to read about their art came about. Also, Staff was friendly and welcoming.

The Intuit Center is very cool but a bit smaller than I expected, so I'm not sure I feel it worth the $5 "suggested" donation. Right now there is a cool bottle cap sculpture exhibit and some amazing hand drawn (from memory!) maps by a Cincinnati artist as well as the Henry Darger room. Gift shop is very cool.

I was here for a "sneak preview" of the new Ulysses Davis sculptural show. Check out his evil Richard Nixon in the little gallery of Presidents! Because this was an event associated with a fine arts conference, a curator opened the rope in the Henry Darger room and showed us some things that are usually not visible to the public, like some drawings and scrapbooks Darger made that are in the dresser drawers. He explained a little bit about how it was all preserved, which was fascinating. The room is plenty interesting on its own, but with the "special access pass" it was even better. This room is a permanent part of the museum, but the rest of the art changes, with different exhibitions of works by artists without formal training coming and going throughout the year. It looks like the Davis sculptures will be there until at least mid-March. There's also study center with a library of books and documentaries about self-taught artists and their work. Some books are for sale in the gift shop, but I did not look to see if there is significant overlap with the study center collection. Speaking of the gift shop, it's maybe the best museum gift shop I've visited. Yes, the MCA has cool Japanese toys and the Art Institute has magnets shaped like suits of armor, but if you want something like a calendar of random American mug shots from the early/mid 20th century, random family snap shots apparently gleaned from antique malls, or bike tire bracelets, this is the place. There's just so much there in such a small space that I am sure I missed something really interesting. Don't forget to donate when you go! There's nobody at the door, just a clear box to put money into, so put as little or as much as you want. It would be a shame to go without giving them anything, though, because the staff clearly works very hard and with great love at keeping this place special.

I don't care what's going on in the front gallery - the Henry Darger room will always be worth the trip. It's really creepy and intense in the best way. When we went, the curator (I think that's who she was) stood and talked with us for way longer than necessary about Darger's work. It really felt like we were getting VIP treatment, plus we got to hear someone all sophisticated and dressed in business casual use the phrase "chicks with dicks." And, you know, it's free, so you should probably just stop in and check it out. And buy something from the gift shop.

Love, love, love Intuit! What a treasure. And one that happens to be pretty well hidden in a rusty, crusty part of town... much like a lot of the work housed therein. Don't let that keep you from finding your way here. For those of us who live outside Chicago/NYC/Atlanta and don't have easy access to outsider work via galleries, shows, museums, or auctions, seeing this work outside of print form is the difference between experiencing my Achtung Baby cassette tape vs. U2 on tour. My first trip happened to be during Lonnie Holley's artist-in-residence stint. It was an awakening for me, and I am grateful to have one of those pieces in my home. My second show was the Architecture of Hope exhibit, which was more broad and comprised a number of artists. I hope to make it up for the William Hawkins - Hawkins Bolden exhibit coming up. As much as I love the exhibits, I've also spent hours perusing the shop. Intuit has a stellar selection of reference literature, including old exhibit catalogs and periodicals. On my last trip, I had to creatively rearrange my luggage to get underweight because I'd piled up books on Yoakum, von Bruenchenhein, and Finster that I'd previously been unaware of. And the staff have always been helpful and sweet!

As a pal of mine once said "sometimes art should just be looked at and not talked about." I am not an art critic and I don't pretend to have the knowledge to provide an extensive, insightful overview of this center. I do know that when I went last weekend I had a really good experience. I saw the last day of "Least Wanted: A Century of American Mugshots The Mark Michaelson Collection." The collection was comprised of thousands of mugshots from all eras. The Intuit web site summed it up best: "This is central casting for the Late Late Show of unvarnished reality, and the lineup is full of small-timers, those who have fallen through the cracks." Endlessly fascinating example of "found photography." I also saw the Henry Darger Exhibition, which runs through June 28th. Darger was a bizarro and prolific Chicago "outsider" artist whose paintings and collages are colorful and creative. The exhibit focuses primarily on the Vivian Girls, a unusual collection of heroic young girls--some inexplicably with...um...boys' genitalia--as they fight various evil entities. I'm not going to pretend that I completely understand it but the work is really creative and innovative. I particularly loved the recreation of Darger's cramped Lincoln Park studio. It's refreshing to see the artist's artifacts (and clutter) in this kind of context and in a way that seems very respectful to the artist himself. There's a really good story behind the reconstruction that you can read at the exhibit. I recommend spending the time to learn about Darger as well as the unique approach that the Center took to display his belongings. I'm fairly new to the concept of "outsider art." I saw a great Martin Ramirez exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum and it got me very interested in learning more about these untrained and often unsung artists. Worth a look! (And, hey, it's free!)

Intuit is a pretty amazing little space. If you are into folk, intuitive or "Outsider" art, it is definitely worth a stop. Spaces of this kind are rare. In the name of art from the fringes: I ask others who are impatient with the size of the space or "lack of selection" to consider what you are asking the curators to assemble. Are you going to see "a bunch of stuff" or hoping to find one good piece that speaks to you? These types of work are often snapped up by private collectors or destroyed, I deeply respect the effort involved in assembling them for us to view for free. The Darger Room is the focus of Intuit's space, its reason for being. Concerned volunteers managed to save artifacts from his studio/apartment - why it was torn down I've yet to understand. A small space (close to 10' square, if that) in the back of Intuit approximates a corner of Henry Darger's apartment. As a whole, I found the room a bit flat - a sanitized version of his space. I did enjoy seeing the bundles of his reference materials and art supplies, though. The current exhibits are very relevant to Intuit's mission and valuable to the folk art /"Outsider" enthusiast: a selection of about 40 pieces including collage, sculpture & paintings from the Heartland and the work of Joseph Yoakum. The shop, which thankfully is not a corporate art museum store, has some worthwhile publications and appropriate small items. You can feel good about supporting a worthwhile cause while picking up a good exhibition catalogue. I look forward to returning!

I don't know how (read: why) I went so long without checking this place out. I suppose it was one of those things I took for granted, as in, I'll get around to visiting sometime. Usually those places are the places you should be visiting all the time, and Intuit is no exception. My friend really wanted to check out their Darger Room, and she was not disapointed. The recreation of his living/work space was definitely a unique museum exhibit. I only wish that more of his work was visible from behind the little velvet rope. What I really loved was the exhibit they've just extended, a collection of the works of Joseph Yoakum. The pieces are mostly landscapes said to be inspired by his world travels, though there is no confirmation that he actually set foot in all of these places. While a lot of them are of rural America, there were several cool landscapes of areas in South America and Sweden, if I remember correctly. Either way, there's something almost mythological about the concept, and when you throw his own unique eye, you get something special. At least three times I found myself reminded of a mushroom trip in Central Park. The rest of the stuff in the front room ranged from "This is pretty excellent" to "OK, I could have done this as a child". I suppose given the genre that that's to be expected. The staff were super pleasant, the price was right (free) and the gift shop had about fifteen things I wanted to take home. If you've been thinking about going, go.

There aren't a lot of museums like this, and that's why you should go! Came for the Henry Darger room, stayed for everything else. Some of the exhibits are by local artists. When I went, I saw some student artwork that was surprisingly really moving. A quirky gift shop too. Right off of the blue line.

Street parking not too hard on Aberdeen behind it. It's not large but it is fascinating if you enjoy outsider art. Nice little gift shop. The Henry Darger room is fascinating. Give yourself time to read the accompanying materials.

Went on a holiday Saturday and the executive director herself was there. Such a unique museum! Each caption tells a unique story about the unconventional artist who made the piece. A mix of American and international artworks and mediums. THe Henry Darger Room is a fascinating replica of the outsider artist's apartment, complete with collages, clippings, religious ornaments, balls of twine, paints, etc. I had the opportunity to work on a project about Darger, so seeing the room in person was a real treat. At $5 it's a great deal. The gift shop showcases more custom art as well.

I went here for the Arts and Drafts events and I was pleasantly surprised by the Outsider Art they display, it's not something I ever really got into or see myself getting very interested in, but there were some exhibits there that drew my interest and the Henry Darger room was an interesting, but sad story. I think it's a great space for a smaller event that has some interesting work showcased.

While Chicago boasts a slew of world-renowed institutions full of grand art, I am more comfortable at offbeat museums and galleries with quirky collections and fun exhibits. Located on the east end of Noble Square, Intuit creates this unique vibe with its clean, cozy space and progressive programming. "Outsider" art usually has strange connotations and often is very emotionally draining and disturbing, but the careful curation and judicious use of layout make Intuit a place to explore these types of reactions to what are truly different types of art. They also feature lectures and walk-throughs to delve further into their current and permanent exhibitions, and their gift shop is chock-full of sweet ephemera. Be sure to pick up Intuit's complimentary "Outsider" publication, which illuminates their specific concept and overall vision. Overall, a real gem in the roster of Chicago's eclectic galleries.

Intuit is a one-of-a-kind place. Most of their shows and lectures are edifying and worthwhile. I like the Darger room, though it is "prettified" and not at all what Henry left... That said, Intuit is a place for all those artists lost to obscurity. Save the "new" outsider artsist that glom onto the genre like Chris Hipkiss-he's a so/so artist with nothing but an ability to imitate TRUE outsiders- like Darger and Augustin Lesage. I think he just thought draw like an architect and affix some penises to nymphs...that's the formula. Tisnikar, painter of death Publisher: 1978 New York Summerfield Press. Hardcover 4to. Color illustrations Joze Tisnikar worked on the night-shift in the Pathology Dept. of the Hospital in Slovenj Gradec, a Slovene town in the foothills of the Alps. He suffered nervous breakdowns and alcoholism but triumphed over himself to become a great painter.. He was also a Catholic, practicing. Little is found online,I have access to the book: Tisnikar, painter of death-I will post more info. to add to the biographical information available about him online. I may even add a Wiki entry- in the name of accuracy. This begins my chronicling of Catholic mostly,but others too, outsider artists. I am in love already. Tisnikar worked in a hospital's morgue, Darger was a janitor in one- I have worked in one too. He took photographs of the morgue's guests, an art in and of itself, and painted the scenes too.

Tucked away in Chicago's River West neighborhood, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art provides sanctuary for wayward art. Despite the obvious signage, finding a way into the center can be a bit of a challenge as it blends with the urban architecture, and many visitors might mistake it as a service entrance for deliveries. The aim of Intuit is to challenge the public into changing their idea of what constitutes craft. Step inside and the space opens into a showroom of eclectic ingenuities full of color, texture, and luster. A staff member will direct you to push back the red-velvet curtain, shamelessly covering walls set aside for the quietly queer who have created a kinky homage to Alfred Kinsey. Convicting depictions await your arousal, but the constricted square footage of fetish almost promises to disappoint. Authenticity lies in the eye of the beholder, and Intuit immediately recognized Kinsey's anonymous fans as unsung, erotic exhibitionists. Kinsey pioneered the field of sex research during the '30s and '40s. His major breakthrough proved women actually enjoyed having sex. Most men had the impression that their XX counterparts were just there to facilitate a man's impetuous responses to feeling aroused. Overall, Alfred Kinsey astringently articulated it as a "widespread ignorance of sexual structure and physiology." His research put gender-centric ideas to shame and sexually liberated the female. In a desperate attempt to affirm their inherent desires, lusciously lewd fans of Kinsey's work dished their dirty, sexual liaisons. Mostly in the form of amateur sketches, these various, cathartic mediums were shared with the only inadvertently abstract expressionist who may have understood the true nature of sexual desire during the Big Band Era. Nineteen-forties mainstreamers might have seen these lascivious compositions as mere perversions, now celebrated as a form of personal growth when considering modern-day sexual platforms. (Websites such as Adult Friend Finder, Fester and Zoosbook are social-networking communities set in place for those who possess a refined, sexual appetite.) Not one person has to feel completely alone in their longing. What might remain is whether or not some of these historical forms of self-expression were cries for help. The only kind of swing permitted in the zoot suit days was left for the dance floor. Sexuality was then recognized as a form of recreation, but this was just the tip...of the iceberg. Homosexuality was frowned upon and treated as a mental illness. If men were able to speak on their attractions, electroshock therapy was ultimately the scientific response over praying the gay away. Like a slinky, minds expanded as quickly as they contracted into their confined and comfortable patterns of thought. If religion still dominated the '40s, it would stand to reason that all desires were met with an unbearable sense of shame if they were carried out. One salacious sketch portrays a man trying to engage in intercourse with his female partner mounted on the back end of a donkey. Take a closer look, and notice his aim was a little off, and he's actually getting acquainted with the equus anatomy. Maybe you didn't have to. Was this artist an animal lover and/or abuser? This is what every generation should be asking. Curiosity would definitely inspire the idea of whether or not the artist was content in living with this kind of desire. Many criticized Alfred Kinsey, but what made him great was drawing enough facts to support the idea that presumed sexual deviants are not alone. Fundamental investigations into these unusual desires could go on to address how these various; guilty pleasures are compartmentalized into gradient levels of sanity. Assuming it was not intended, the confining space of the exposition brings the hanging artifacts just to the border of the American standard for personal space. Moving in any direction will bring you closer to the work, whether you want to be or not. Imagine randomly attending a private party exclusive to the sexually deviant--where every room in the venue celebrates a different kind hormonal craving. The party is crowded with unfamiliar faces attached to scantily clad bodies, and there's not enough time to mentally prepare for what you're about to see or experience. As if it isn't enough that you are exposed of your dirty curiosities just for being there, the tables are turned. Suddenly carousers become critical of your presence, and begin to question your own sexual appetite, and they are all too happy to help you nourish it. The only option is to accept what's happening. As they say, when in Rome.

I've gone on multiple occasions and have never been let down. It's quite a trek from my home in Hyde Park but it's definitely worth the travel. My personal favorite exhibit was mug shots from the 1920s-1930s. I love the idea that art can come from anyone as a means of expression. I love that people who aren't considered "artists" have a place to display their work. Best of all? It's free!

At least one reviewer states that having institutions preserve outsider art somehow cheapens the art; to which I respond, there might not be preserved outsider art if it were not for the art establishment's protection. Darger's work could easily have found its way to a dumpster instead of to a museum, if it were not for the protection and grace of gifted connoisseurs. INTUIT is one such sanctuary. We attended the Ulysses Davis exhibit this weekend and found the presentation, space, and lighting delightful. Chicagoans who have not yet been to INTUIT are doing themselves a disfavor - Go! Also notice the museum's website has a calendar of art lectures. Become more savvy about the art and meet other members of the interested public. I agree with other reviewers that I was expecting more of Darger's work at INTUIT besides just the Darger room. Not necessarily a criticism . . . after seeing "In the Realms of the Unreal" I was hoping for more Darger, that's all.

Finally got to go here. Saw the Ulysses Davis show: Very nice. The place isn't huge, but they have a lot of stuff, especially with the recreated workroom of Henry Darger room. There is a shop, which was not as amazing as everyone says. I didn't really see anything interesting, personally. Seems a good place for books though. They now charge a $5 entrance fee, but it is worth it.

Intuit is a really amazing place-- it is certainly true, as some other reviewers have noted, that it's a small museum (one gallery near the front door, a smaller gallery in the back, and a Henry Darger room in the rear of the building) -- but what is here is rich and fascinating. The current post Black Folk Art exhibit features some really incredible work, much of it by artists who lived and worked in Chicago. The folks who work at Intuit are really passionate about outsider art, and will happily talk to you about anything in the collection. The tiny gift store is also filled with some cool stuff made by local artists. Definitely worth the trip. Note: suggested donation.

I love this place. The first time I came here I discovered they had Wesley Willis stickers and that they were free. My heart soared. What a great day. I could not feel more welcome when I am here and they have an awesome gift shop. Last weekend I had the pleasure of looking over the Ulysses Davis exhibit. Wow! I try never to take for granted how lucky I am to have a place like this just down the street.

This museum expand your artistic horizons by introducing you to Outsider Art. This is a small but mighty museum that never fails to deliver! A Chicago gem for sure!!!

I don't know if my one visit was a good representation of what this place has to offer on most days, but I was pretty underwhelmed by the selection of Outsider art. I mean, the Darger room is cool and seems to be the centerpiece of the Intuit, but there was only one Darger drawing displayed. And I was also hoping to see a greater cross section of well known outsider artists. The exhibition of wood scultpures and miscellaneous pieces in the main room were not very exciting. And the gift shop had some things for sale that made it feel almost like a garage sale. Like old B&W photos for $.50. Ok, maybe in an antique market. We came for a performance of the Flea Circus which was completely sold out and had gotten good reviews. Ticket's were $12 for the hour long show. The first half hour was the guy selling trinkets like a miniature program and little magnifying glass to the crowd for $.25. The last half hour was a pretty lame ruse of a couple fleas doing a total of 3 tricks which amounted to almost nothing. I had some vague idea of what a flea circus entailed, and I appreciated the nostalgia, audience participation and "lost-art" of the show, but I was hoping for a little more 'smoke and mirrors' and theatrical elements, and even a better performance by the ringmaster. There were a lot of kids and I think even they were pretty underwhelmed with it all. Most of the crowd seemed to leave the show confused and feeling conned. Which is the idea I guess. But in the end, you just feel you were duped out of $12. The gallery is free, so I guess you can't complain. The only thing that caught my interest was a Wesley Willis DVD for sale. But I passed.

One of the gems of Chicago. Every exhibit is extraordinary! One of the latest was "Draw", a well curated & beatiful exhibit. The wide spectrum of techniques and wild imagination are so impressive. The staff is great also. I usually see each exhibit more than once, always being amazed.

$5 admission is a small price to pay to see some of the world's best outsider art. The gallery space is small & exhibits rotate through. Artists biographies provide context & make the art accessible. Staff is friendly & willing to answer questions. Bonus - Henry Darger's recreated apartment in the back.

Definitely worth a visit. It's small, but free, and easily accessible on the Blue Line. The Henry Darger Room is underwhelming, but the exhibits in the main room are pretty cool, like the recent retrospective on Lee Godie. The gift shop is full of neat little trinkets and books, too.

I have only been here once, but my husband and I had a pretty fun time. The place was clean and the art was neato. The gift shop was small but interesting, and they have a "bathroom gallery" which was funny. The only bad thing was the door was locked during open hours and it was confusing, we almost left. You have to ring the bell and wait, the door sticks!

If you know what outsider art is, this is a great little museum. If you don't know what outsider art is, it's great place to find out. I am a big fan of small museums for many reasons and this one delivers. The size makes it feel like a hip art gallery but all the information available for the pieces shown and the selection of the pieces themselves make it feel like a first class museum. Best of both worlds. Seems like the exhibits are rotated, so I expect to be back every so often to see what is new. Go on a Saturday afternoon and then grab a drink or a bite somewhere nearby and let the discussion begin.

This tiny, voluntary donation museum is a true gem -- and a Chicago must-see, since it's unlike anything you can find anywhere else. The recreation of Henry Darger's room is the highlight, of course, and reason alone to visit. But the exhibitions are also fantastic (the current Joseph Yoakum show is absolutely stunning). They just have a better eye than your standard "outsider art" exhibits at major museums. I always find such exhibits at major museums lean toward the quaint or cute -- this place I think really fits the spirit of outsider art. The place doesn't feel institutional or condescending or anthropological, and the works picked are really powerful and beautiful, not just kooky or curious. Overall, the museum feels like a labor of love, a place run by and staffed by artists and passionate devotees. Also, a really unique and interesting gift shop, with great books, Found magazine, original pieces of art, etc. By itself worth the trip!

This is a very special place. The city is lucky to have it. Check it out if you haven't already. Then support it (it's a non-profit) and bring more friends next time you go. It's a friendly gallery, which is not something you'll find in large cities very often, and the art is stellar. You don't have to be familiar with 'Outsider Art' to get into it, either. They have a fun little shop area, too, with cool books and funky gift items.

Just now taking a moment to review this gem. When we visited, there were huge wall murals by an artist who melded his American and Hispanic heritage with bold symbols and imagery. We also enjoyed some huge manga-style murals. I was looking forward to the Darger room and it came through with the eerie, time-warp feeling I was hoping for. But, oh, I wish I could have perused some of the artifacts in that roped-off room! Be patient - I'm sure many visitors bypass the book collection - and be sure to skim through some of the books. There's a book in there on Darger's work that includes full-color, full-pages of some of The Vivian Girls epic. I appreciated the funky range of the gift store - it didn't come off as pre-packaged nor irrelevant to Intuit. Also enjoyed an exhibit of local elementary & middle school art - inspirational... Just the right size that you can take a "non-arts friend" and they will find value in the visit, too. Worth returning for each new exhibit.

This place is great, and practically one-of-a-kind (besides the bigger, actual museum of outsider art in Baltimore). They did start charging $5 for admission; however the opening nights are still free. They also have an annual used clothes sale, which was today. I like going to it, however this year they didn't have a half-off sale the last hour. Instead, they're opening for 2 extra hours tomorrow. This seems a bit unfair, especially as a few of the people associated w/the place were whispering about the discount--obviously they didn't want the current shoppers to know. I only spent a fourth as much money as last year due to everything being full-price til the end. But it isn't something to hold against Intuit.

Intuit is an amazing resource for art fans and artists alike. With a large library, a gift shop, and a convenient event space, the Intuit Center for Outsider Art showcases the work of many outsider artists deserving of greater attention. For a measly 5 bucks, you can see some great paintings, sculpture, and drawings, as well as take in the Henry Darger room, a permanent fixture of the gallery's collection, a recreation of the apartment belonging to the famous writer and painter from Chicago.

Very unique place with some really cutting edge art. I often find Outsider Art to be more interesting than art by trained people. The Henry Darger room is worth the trip alone. It's not a very big museum and the neighborhood is a bit shabby, but it's not too expensive and the people are really friendly. Very inspiring.

This place is a trip. I walked in not knowing what to expect since I really wasn't exactly sure what outsider art is. Our guide was so knowledgable as he explained the concept of outsider art, and told us about some of the pieces. He took our questions and answered with expertise and clarity. In fact, every staff person I encountered was willing to share insight and information. The artwork is beautiful and highly unusual. There's information about the artist posted near each piece. It seemed that there was a theme of some sadness, illness or hardship that was a common thread to each artist, which helped me to understand the depth of the art. I found some of the art to have a sad and eerie quality, but art should evoke emotion. The Darger room was absolutely fascinating. It brought to life the man behind this whimsical yet sometimes disturbing work. If you're a lover of visual art, or just curious about outsider art, I highly recommend visiting Intuit. I walked out feeling much richer than when I walked in.

This is an interesting though small gallery in West Town. I've seen outsider art exhibits at museums before but I've never been to a museum devoted entirely to outsider art. I enjoyed reading the detailed descriptions of the artists and their work--it's much more comprehensive than the blurbs I see at most art museums. There was also a cute gift shop and a reading room. Admission is only $5, so I would recommend stopping by if you are ever in the area.