The Renaissance Society

An avant garde art museum at the University of Chicago. You’ve probably never heard of the Renaissance Society. Though its name sounds antiquated, the name comes from the broad meaning of renaissance, “rebirth”. Rather than concentrate on the past, the Society maintains “bold and early commitments to this country’s most challenging and provocative art.” The Renaissance Society was one of the first museums to focus on “modern art.” Unlike most museums that measure their worth by the value of their permanent collection, the Renaissance Society is a non-collecting museum, so it devotes its energy to unique shows, much like a gallery.