The Untitled Picasso, Chicago, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Untitled Picasso is a monumental steel sculpture standing in Richard J. Daley Plaza in the Loop, Chicago. Unveiled in 1967, it was a gift from Pablo Picasso to the city, and it divided opinion before becoming one of Chicago's best-loved public artworks.

The story behind it

Chicago commissioned the work from Picasso, and the city unveiled it in 1967 in front of what is now the Daley Center. The sculpture is about 50 feet (15 metres) tall and made of steel that has weathered to a rusty brown. Picasso never gave it a title, which is why everyone calls it simply the Chicago Picasso. Its subject has been argued over ever since. Picasso is said to have drawn on one of his Afghan Hounds, while others see a baboon, a bird or a woman's head.

Many Chicagoans were not won over at first. Newspaper columnist Mike Royko was among the sharpest critics and compared it to a menacing insect. Over the years the public warmed to it. Children climb and slide on its base, it appears on souvenirs, and the Blues Brothers car chase in the 1980 film runs through the plaza around it.

What to look for

• Walk all the way around the sculpture, because its profile changes completely from each side, and from some angles it looks like a long-nosed animal.
• Look at the rust-brown steel surface, which was designed to weather and develop its dark patina over time.
• Notice the scale of the piece against the tall glass and steel tower behind it, a contrast that shows why it works as a plaza centrepiece.
• Watch how people use the base, where the angled planes make a natural seat and slide.

Tips for your visit

• It stands outdoors in an open plaza, so you can see it any time without a ticket. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for a good look and some photos.
• Morning light is softer and the plaza is usually quieter than at lunchtime, when office workers fill it.
• Joan Miro's sculpture Chicago is just across the street, so you can compare two very different pieces of modern public art in a few minutes.
• Check current listings if you want to catch a market or seasonal event in the plaza, as these change from year to year.

See it on a quest

Chicago Loop Highlights: Battle the Supernatural passes the Picasso as one stop on a longer walk through the Loop. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits the sculpture well, since you end up looking at it far more closely than a passing glance allows. The quest is a paid one, and a single ticket covers your whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.