Museum of Contemporary Photography

Free museum, but donations appreciated (cash only)! Very friendly staff & good vibes. It was small but full of very cool modern photography from different parts of the world. Definitely recommend! Took me like 15-20 minutes to walk through the whole thing!

A fantastic photo gallery for all kinds of photographers. It’s free, but they do take donations. We’ll definitely make another trip the next time I’m in Chicago.

We just discovered the Museum of Contemporary Photography and I don't know why it took us so long. We went to a a discussion led by Kristin Taylor, the Curator of Academic Programs and Collections. It was stimulating and enlightening. The museum is technically free, but, there is there is a donation box in the front of the entrance, feel free to donate! The actual exhibit area is 3 floors, but the actual exhibit area is small and located in a Columbia College building, Definitely check out the second floor. They have an inventory of approximately 15000 photos, so they have lots of material for exhibits. In fact, there are new exhibits every couple of months. They have well known and lesser known photographers in their collection, all of them interesting and worth a look. I highly suggest checking out their website for the current and upcoming exhibits and events.

We visited and the show on display was excellent. The presentation was good, The subject matter was very relevant to today's society. Excellent show.

It is very enjoyable space with Good exhibits. I really enjoy how The museum used everysingle space to present great artists! They do also offer events and programming.

Attended with a group and had a private docent discussion about Portraits or the perception of. Many of the photos featured and in the collection are by former students of Columbia. Small primary exhibit LOVE on the first floor.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago offers a captivating experience, showcasing an impressive array of photographic art that spans various styles and eras. Each exhibit is thoughtfully curated, providing visitors with a deep understanding of the themes and techniques explored by both emerging and established artists. The museum's staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, enhancing the educational aspect of every visit. This hidden gem in the heart of the city is a must-visit for photography lovers and art enthusiasts alike.

Free photography museum. Small but packs a punch with its inspiring and poignant pieces. Left feeling very happy that I had visited.

The museum is free with a suggested five dollar donation at the door. Enter on Michigan Avenue. This gallery hosts, different photographers, and their work. And also offers a small library connected to the exhibit and a small space to sit and read. Her multiple levels to the gallery, allowing for different sizes of images to be shared in different spaces. I thought this was unique and fun and unexpected find on Michigan Avenue.

Free museum and you get what you pay for. It doesn't take long to look at everything here. The Museum Of Contemporary Photography is a part of Columbia College and is totally free to get in. Has photography all from pretty recent years and it's not that bad. Worst thing is there's not that much to look at, but this is free though. A lot of fairly unknown artists are represented, and it's a good way to get them attention. It's a part of Columbia College, known for its art education. The entrance is actually in one of the campus buildings, on the ground level. Easy to pass up the door that enters the museum because it's a pretty nondescript entrance. Most of the photography is on the first floor, and it still doesn't take that long to look at this. Has a few more on the second and third floors. This should take maybe a half hour if that to see everything for the most part. Good thing certainly that it's free. It's too small to be treated like a real museum some might say, but unlike those ones this won't cost anything to get in. The artwork is okay mostly and not that good at other times, but it's free though so whatever.

If you're looking for some quick fun, this is a small museum that features a few artists. I spent about 30 minutes here. There was about 5-6 photographers being spotlighted. It' a free museum, no reservations needed! It's right next to Millennium Park where Cloud Gate and Buckingham Fountain are.

Lovely wee space with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing what's next. Limited exhibit space, but to me this is a positive as you can get in, see everything, and get out without having to take up your full day. And it's free!

Like everyone has said before me, it's FREE and although there's a fairly small amount of photos on display it might be worth your time if you want to see a few of their interesting selections. They had on display a few pigment prints, which I thought were rather unique, they're almost like paintings. Although I've attached some of the pictures for this review they're more interesting in person.

I commend the museum curators. They did a great job with their selections of photography and diverse artists. I love coming here to check out their new exhibits.

the museum for the photography majors at columbia university. it's free and i found the exhibit on the inequalities of asylum seeking really moving. not a huge museum but again- freeeee and always love supporting new artists.

If you're on South Michigan Avenue with a short bit of time on your hands, then find your way to the MoCP. It's free, accessible, and enlightening. And the Art Institute up the street a few blocks charges you to check out their work, so take advantage of this option. The exhibit at the time of my visit was all about artificial intelligence. Not only were there several interesting pieces set up, as well as some interesting photography, there were also multiple short films being played. Liam Young had two short vignettes on robotics and AI that were concise and intriguing. 'Where The City Can't See' is shot entirely with laser scanners and described a futuristic Detroit, while 'Seoul City Machine' demonstrates a future of on-demand advertising, consumption, and autonomous non-human activity. For anyone who spent their two hours watching the Oscar-winning film 'Parasite', this ain't the same Seoul. AI is growing more every day and it's exceptionally interesting. MoCP is free and accepts donations, and what a great outlet for students of Columbia College to represent their creativity and design. You can do the whole thing in 20-30 minutes and easily satisfy your creative curiosities.

We just discovered the Museum of Contemporary Photography and I don't know why it took us so long. We went to a a discussion led by Kristin Taylor, the Curator of Academic Programs and Collections. It was stimulating and enlightening. The museum is technically free, but, there is there is a donation box in the front of the entrance, feel free to donate! The exhibit area is 3 floors, but the actual exhibit area is small and located in a Columbia College building, Definitely check out the second floor. They have an inventory of approximately 15000 photos, so they have lots of material for exhibits. In fact, there are new exhibits every couple of months. They have well known and lesser known photographers in their collection, all of them interesting and worth a look. I highly suggest checking out their website for the current and upcoming exhibits and events.

This is one of my favorite museums in Chicago. Not only do they always have great exhibits, it is also free and open to the public. Too often, great art is restricted to those who have the means and the wealth to access it. I appreciate that the Museum of Contemporary Photography believes and commits itself to making photography accessible to anyone. Today, I also met the director of the museum, Natasha. I appreciated that she took time from working to speak with me about the Ai Weiwei photographs hanging on her wall. I come here for inspiration, have brought my own students to do the same and I am so grateful that this museum is around. Do yourself a favor and check out this museum when your in town or need something to do.

Admission is free. No, you wouldn't fly from Sydney, Australia here just to see this museum. But it's right off Michigan Ave. near Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, etc. so it's a no-brainer to stop by for 30-45 minutes.

Not much to see have a $5 donation each. Very limited display. Easy to skip this place

I was very confused by this museum. Maybe I didn't go down a floor and missed several floors of the place; but I seriously saw maybe 4 rooms total, with maybe 20 prints in total. I liked the explanations of the prints, and the ones I saw were very interesting, and well done, but it was extremely limited and very small, with honestly not- alot going on. So, I am hoping that I did miss an entire floor or something to that extent...the place has huge potential but it seemed every corner I turned it was 'employees only--do not enter" . I agree, compared to other museums in Chicago I was seriously very confused by this place, (more or less very let down) the price is right--(free) but I wouldn't be coming with any grandiose expectations.

There were five pieces I really enjoyed. I was expecting more photos to be on display. Many were stills of people, but didn't really show the talents of photography techniques or mechanics of altering images. The two best stills where: 1. Caroline World by Joanna R. Rockport. The girl makes you feel like she is actively staring directly at you - Spooky! 2. The second is on display on the third floor. I lost the information, but basically the woman's back is to you while she is sitting on a stool at a counter completely alone. She too seems so realistic, as if she is going to turn around - spooky awesomeness!!!

It's cool. Good art. Inspirational. Eye opening. It was heavy but good. I like that it is free. And pretty intense though. Good place to check out. Next to buckingham fountain and lake

This museum is free of charge and located across from Grant Park. It's a three story exhibit but actually pretty small. It had a lot of great photography but I just wish there was more backstory listed with each photo, because they all seemed so interesting. Overall, not a must on the list of museums to go to in Chicago, but if you're looking to kill time and you're in the area, you might as well come by since it's free!

If there's anything I took away from MCP, I'm more eager to go on binging spree and buy a bunch of lenses now. A myriad of vintage photographs, MCP is a mix of retro and controversial works, far and in between, noticeably Sally Mann's "Innocence Lost" (young girl smoking photo). You don't have to be a photography expert or an art aficionado to understand any of the photographs--all you have to do is try to search for the beauty of each work. If you come here solely to see the world-renowned pieces, no doubt will you find them, but you'll be surprised by what you see if you keep an open mind. The second and third floors showcase more crafty, colorful pieces, special in their own right, but I'd say skip those if you're not into that. The photography collection, on the other hand, will "wow" you. My art muse leans more towards artifacts but even I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this gallery. If you're interested in photography and the works of local artists, this is a great place to check out (read: FREE ADMISSION) and kill time.

This gallery (a "museum"? really?) definitely gets props for admission, which is suggested. So, you can go for free! You can definitely go through this gallery in half an hour. I came for one about Vietnam, which contained a few photographers and was meant to push the envelope in terms of our conceptions of the country. However, I didn't feel like the curator achieved this at all; stereotypes were reinforced, if anything. The pieces were varied, though, so I appreciate the different types of photography that were represented in this exhibit. Nonetheless, I was a bit surprised by the message of the exhibit. Visit with an open mind, I guess.

Excellent exhibits. Museum is free of charge and open to the public. The photography is breath-taking and worth the stop.

This is one of the most unappreciated treasures in the city. It s a wonderful little museum and is definitely worth a visit. However, given that the collection, being as wonderful as it is, isn't of renowned works so I would admit that a visit to this museum is probably better for a Chicagoan to broaden their horizons rather for a tourist who just wants the best of chicago and is strapped on time. I do LOVE the convenience of the location. It is right on Michigan Ave. The convenience of it being housed right inside the Columbia College, does rob its chance of being a standalone museum. It is free but a $5 donation is suggested which is a fare price to help fund the artists and students. I picked up a brochure from the gallery that details each work by photographer, subject, year and spent about 1.5 hours at the museum. This was enough time for someone to check out every image. A 30min trip to the museum would suffice for someone trying to gaze through quickly. The pieces are very beautiful - the talent evident in the work. If someone is an arts enthusiast or simply an admirer should check out MOCP for sure!

I attended the Opening reception: Dandy Lion - (Re) Articulating Black masculine identity. What a good time! There was a huge turn out which made it very cramped, but I was still able to make it to all 3 floors to check out the photographs and mingle. My favorite part was getting to meet two of my favorite writers from blackandsexytv. If you don't know what that is please get on YouTube and look it up. You are missing out if you don't! (I promise I'm not a publicist for the show... Lol). I plan on returning for more exhibits that interest me.

The good: it's free. The bad: No wonder it's free. I guess I've been spoiled by other museums or photography collections, but this little museum left a lot to be desired. I walked through the main space downstairs and room upstairs in less than 5 minutes. It wasn't just that the collection was small, but the photographs on display were not even that good. I guess I just expected better from a museum specializing in photography. Perhaps it's the "contemporary" part that makes it okay to display mediocre work. If you're in the area on south Michigan Avenue, check it out, but don't come out of your way for it.

Compared to other museums in Chicago this one is pretty mediocre. There are a few separate rooms with different exhibits but nothing magnificent. I've been once at that felt like it was more than enough. However, if you need something to do that isn't as expensive as other attractions this isn't a horrible option. It's free (ask for a donation) and right off of Michigan. Not nearly as great as the Art Institute but not as bad as twiddling your thumbs and doing nothing.

Went out of my way to get here during their open hours and they weren't open. The sign said they were open. Nope! I called them. No answer. No voicemail. NOTHING! Epic fail! Boo!

Seems like all you have to do to put a pic in it's wall is study at Columbia. Expected more about this space, I disn't really enjoy the exhibition.

Another free pass for Museum day but with a hint of suggested donations (though I heard that it's free everyday so I felt a little silly). Hey I'm not complaining, I believe in supporting the arts and culture for this city. Photography is obviously a different form of art or expression. Yes, it takes that certain skill and a special eye. Yes, it's open to opinion like art and fashion. But, at least for me, it has a more realness, freezing moments in time and much rawer. People used to believe that a photographer can steal your very soul with a click of the camera. Maybe they can... MoCP is not a very large space but they do make good use with what they have. The young smiling staff seems to have one of those cool jobs that they get to brag about, a constantly changing environment. As for the work, some interesting photos and some not so interesting for my taste but entertaining none the less. You can easily view the entire space within an hour and if you haven't been you should really go. Just another thing Chicago has to offer.

This museum does a good job of presenting a wide array of work from contemporary photographers. The space is really beautiful and they always use it well. They also have really great little openings (often with free delicious food.) The best little known secret however is that they have a pretty great little print room upstairs which I'm pretty sure anyone can take advantage of with a simple phone call. Just give them some time to prepare what you're interested in seeing and then get your own private viewing of prints up close and personal (and usually not behind glass, which really allows you to see so much more.) The next time you're looking for something awesome (and free) to do in the city, go here!

As someone who is mildly interested in photography and very interested in free museums, I thought this would be the perfect way to spend a few hours of free time that I had in Chicago. It seemed as though there were two students from Roosevelt University working the front desk/reception. Instead of greeting me when I walked in, they rolled their eyes as if I was disturbing them from whatever they were doing/watching on their laptop at their desk. The museum itself was okay. It is not very big and took about 30 minutes to walk through. All the photos were sports related, and there was no indication of whether this was a permanent exhibition or if they switched their photos around. But, they had several different mediums and the signs next to the photos explaining their meanings were very informative and easy to read. On my way out I asked the two students if I could purchase a post card from the small gift shop area behind their desk and they abruptly told me they did not sell post cards. They did not attempt to sell me another product or advise me on another place where I could purchase post cards. They should really be fired.

This museum is easy to locate. And people work here are actually very nice. But for someone who doesn't know much about photography. The visit could be very short. The place is small. Not so many rooms and exhibitions.

MoCP is a FREE photography museum attached to Columbia College in Chicago, and it is most certainly worth a visit. From reading other reviews, I have gathered that the exhibition regularly changes. The exhibition I saw focused on the oil industry and the damage it can do, including some current risks posed to American people by the industry. The exhibition focused on this theme for the entirety of three floors, and did so in some fascinating ways. My favourite part was on the second floor, where there were a series of portraits of regular Chicago people. Each was accompanied by their stories, and how their health and wellbeing had been damaged by local industry related to big oil. If you work for a large oil company, you might not enjoy this exhibition, but it certainly provides a fascinating insight to a regular person like me. I will visit again next time I'm in town!

Vivian Sassan's UMBRA exhibit at the MOCP, was a real treat. I was very excited to see her work in person, after taking a look into her artist bio, online. I love color and light so her work made my heart beat a litter faster when I was researching her. I knew that if I was blown away by her website, I'd be even more impressed standing in front of her work, I was.

There's nothing I like more than a free museum, especially in Chicago as they come few and far between. The Museum of Contemporary Photography is housed inside Columbia College on Michigan Avenue, it has works from Harry Shearer (yes, Harry Shearer of The Simpsons and Spinal Tap fame) where he collected satellite news feed clips of political and media giants such as James Carville, Hillary Clinton, and Anderson Cooper, silently getting ready to go on air. Another fun exhibit that was there was the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue photo project where they look at different houses throughout the US that share the famous address of the White House.

A small gallery space, laid out over two labels with a couple of photography exhibitions. Oh, and it's free. Located near the Arts Institute and Millenium Park.

Photography No point of view collages yes. We lived this in the '60s it's history that is repeating it's self today sadly. So come and educate yourself of a past that shouldn't happen again

I went to MoCP last night to see "The Transparent City" - a great collection of photos by Michael Wolf. The museum itself is small, just about five rooms, so they are fairly limited on what they can show. I got the sense that none of the photos were permanent so I imagine there is a good chance of having a completely different experience every trip, which is way cool. Also, admission is free which is amazing. They do have a donation box and the suggested donation is $5 but there was no pressure involved. The exhibit itself was fascinating. It provided a really cool look into the lives of people as they go about business unaware of what's happening around them. Wolf did a great job of capturing a breadth of emotions from a distance. The exhibit runs until the end of January - I definitely recommend you stop in and check it out.

Being a photographer, I was eager to visit this museum. I was greeted at the door by a request to check my camera bag. I asked if it was necessary due its small size and considerable value of my camera equipment. The attendant replied that there were no exceptions and all bags must be checked. I don't think so, see ya. By the way, this is the only place in Chicago where I had this problem.

Totally lackluster. Very small collection. Overrun with students. It's free but not worth the trip, in my opinion.

One of my favorite Chicago museums, with interesting collections and exhibits that are always well put together and the occasional guest lecturer. Did I mention its free?

This is a free museum attached to Columbia College. It's not going to be an entire day event so just roll by when you have 45-60 minutes to spare in your day. They have videos set up right now on the first floor and more traditional photography upstairs. This was NOT what I was expecting but I mean that in a good way. As my friend said on our way out. "A little TOO contemporary for me."

This was ok for a free museum. I wish they had more landscape pictures though and less industrial type pics.

It's free! Check out the current exhibit: Jan Theun van Rees's "Hidden Chicago Spaces." He takes Chicago's most beautiful and famous architecture (churches, Cloud Gate, the Auditorium Building, the Field Museum...) and photographs their grungy innards -- the boiler rooms, HVAC systems, attics, hidden stairways, etc. Striking.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography, on Michigan below Congress is in a relatively small multi-level space. During my visit, an exhibit on spectator sports was underway. The art was interesting and thought provoking, but I was surprised to not find any of the permanent collection on display. It's possible that we missed a turn somewhere, but the only photographs I saw were part of the exhibit. It would be great if they could dedicate more physical space to allow for more photos to be hung (their permanent collection is available online). I give it four stars because it is free (donation suggested) and in a good location. If they charged admission, I would lower the rating to 3 stars due to the relatively limited display space.

Small free museum. Conveniently located in downtown so worth a visit. However, this museum doesn't seem like it's fitted for photographers. There's a large focus where a photograph of a transgender person is shown, and there's a bio on that person's story. Seems more like a LGBT advocation instead.

We were looking for a photography museum and ended up at the MoCP. I knew it was going to be small since I had read some reviews beforehand, but it was actually even tinier than I expected. But hey, it's free. When we were there in mid-October, they were running an exhibit on Shanghai (which is actually there through 12/23). Two sets of works particularly stood out: one was a series featuring photos of Shanghai landmarks taken in the past and the present (by father then son iirc) and the other was a couple of cool 3d photo cutout pieces by a photographer/sculpture (http://www.mocp.org/phpXYs2EWPM.jpg). Both of these sets were very good and interesting - definitely worth checking out the exhibit for these alone. However, the rest of the exhibit was a little lackluster for me - it was fairly unmemorable to be honest. I also thought it was slightly odd that there was basically an entire room of sculpture in a photo museum also. But hey, it's free. Overall, it didn't blow me away, but it's better than I would expect for a completely free museum and there were some parts of the exhibit that I really enjoyed. I could see myself hitting this place up regularly if I lived in Chicago. It's more of a 2.5 for me, but hey, it's free... 3

This is a great, great museum. I agree with Trace Jane, it makes me want to go back to school again and major in photography. This is a really neat museum that changes its exhibits around regularly. Every time I've gone (probably 10 times over the past 3 years) has been a new and different experience. There's only been a few times where I haven't been impressed with the exhibit - coincidentally the same one Katie P went to. The exhibit bored me, but that's what art is - sometimes you respond well to something, sometimes you don't. Otherwise the exhibits can be exhilarating. There was one exhibit a while back, and I'm kicking myself for no remembering the photographer's name, but she took pictures at the same exact time using multiple cameras from different angles. She really created something unique and amazing and when I saw the same exhibit years later in Madison, WI - it was like being reunited with a lost friend. I will always remember that exhibit and my general feeling of appreciation for this talented artist. That being said, yes, be prepared for a small museum that is awkwardly laid out - but also fun to explore. Definitely make sure you go upstairs.

So I was excited about finding this place and walked a distance (sometimes in circles!!) before i got there... yes it's free.... and ohhh how boring it turned out! Don't get me wrong.. I love photography and wanted to love this place.. but I just didn't connect with whatever was on show this time...

Maybe I visited this place at a bad time? I don't know. Reading the other reviews it almost seems like I went to the wrong place. But I double checked, and yup this is the same place I went to a few weeks ago. Granted, it is free. This is a pro. I'm not really hardcore into photography but I did take one or two photography classes in college and I do own and use a film SLR camera. I generally enjoy photography of all kinds and photography pieces are almost always my favorite in art museums. However, this museum was an overwhelming disappointment for me. When I walked in there was stuff all over the floor and I couldn't even make it to the back of the room. There couldn't have been more than a dozen photos on the first floor. There were offices scattered throughout the place and I felt like I was intruding on their workspace. There was only one exhibit that I found even remotely interesting which was a series of self portraits. There was a section of photographs on the second floor stored away but there was a sign saying it was for staff only if I remember correctly. There was a person working back there who seemed annoyed by our presence as well. Like I said maybe it was a bad day or something, but wow, I walked out of there honestly thinking I'd wasted the last half hour of my life.

I love photography and this is such a great place to see some cool photos. It's right inside the first floor of Columbia College, and it's FREE (donation suggested). I've never been disappointed with the exhibits. There are multiple rooms/multiple floors, the space is clean, and the lighting is good. It's one of my favorite Chicago winter excursions...hop on the train, brief walk, look at some cool stuff, warm-up inside, and then grab a hot cocoa or do some day drinking, whatever. Enjoy!

They tell an amazing photography story of Ai Weiwei and his adventures of police surveillance. surveillance. I need to make a second trip before the exhibit goes down.