This Famous Statue Was Actually Built In Indiana, Dismantled, And Brought To Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published June 29, 2023
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Linze Rice
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Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
I love to learn the story behind the story — and thankfully Illinois has a rich history with plenty of interesting gems to uncover. And though many people have seen, gathered at, or know about one of the state’s most famous works of art, they may not know its inspiration or its journey to Illinois from an entirely different state. From its inception to its installation, the story behind the Picasso statue in Chicago, Illinois is a fascinating tale.
Pablo Picasso was a famous Spanish artist born in 1881 who specialized in the cubist and surrealist art movements, creating some of the most iconic works of all time — including the massive abstract statue, Chicago Picasso (or simply, The Picasso).
In 1963, the artist was commissioned to create a piece for the Daly Center Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., in downtown Chicago, which consists of a tall building containing a courthouse and offices, as well as an outdoor plaza for gathering.
Picasso accepted the commission and took no personal payment for the project, instead offering the statue as a gift to the city. Picasso was said to be interested in Chicago's gangster history.
In 1967, the Daly Center began preparations for the huge piece — but its fabrication actually took place in the neighboring state of Indiana at the American Bridge Company, which operated out of Gary.
The American Bridge Company was also responsible for creating iconic engineering feats such as the Sears Tower, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, John Hancock Center, Columbia Center, the Houston Superdome, and much more.
The structure was made of COR-TEN steel and stands an impressive 50 feet tall, weighing a massive 147 tons. After it was constructed in Gary, the cubist sculpture was disassembled and transported to Chicago, where it was officially installed at the Daley Center in August of 1967.
Though the sculpture was at first met with some resistance, it has since become a beloved part of the city and has been featured in a number of films such as "The Blues Brothers," "The Fugitive," and "Bueller's Day Off." Picasso said the inspiration behind the design was his pet Afghan hound, though family members and historians speculate it could also be inspired by a French woman he knew, a male baboon, or his second wife Jacqueline.
So, did you know the story behind the Picasso statue in Chicago, Illinois? Have you ever been to see it up close? Do you have another unique statue or work of art in Illinois that you love (or hate)? Tell us in the comments! Learn more about the Picasso statue at the City of Chicago’s website. Plan a trip to see it live, and stop by this Medieval torture museum or former gangster hangout while you’re in town, then stop for a sandwich at this famous deli!
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