If you’ve ever wanted to see Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling frescoes up close (and close to home!), head to Oakbrook Center.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is located in the former Sears store space and includes a 20 minute video with background about the chapel construction, paintings, and commissions, as well as 34 true-to-size reproductions of his work at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
We were invited to the press preview to experience the exhibit before it opened, but all opinions are our own.
When you enter, you can scan QR codes for an audio tour in either English or Spanish and headphones are available. You also have the option of browsing at your own pace and reading the text in English and Spanish next to each work of art. If you combine the video and walking audio tour, the experience is about 90 minutes.
Masks are required at all times while inside the building. Time slots are available every half hour and we found the flow of the exhibit to be easy to navigate and see everything effortlessly. The exhibit is wheelchair accessible with spacious pathways and all on the same level.
The Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibition website says the experience is for all ages, but please be aware that Michelangelo’s depiction of creation has a lot of nudity. We know each family is different, but wanted to let you know if you weren’t already aware.
Also, although the size of these frescoes and the way they were reproduced is impressive, this art exhibit is not immersive in the same way that the Van Gogh exhibit is. There is subtle classical music playing in the background as visitors admire and study the paintings, but there aren’t any hands-on components or multi-media aspects that will entertain small guests.
Admission starts at $20 for adults and $12 for kids 4-12 years old. Children 3 years old and younger are free. Tickets are currently sold out until the second week in June, but the exhibit will be at the mall through August 15, 2021.
Parking is free and plentiful. You can find a spot in front of the exhibit space or in the nearby purple parking garage.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel at Oakbrook Center
2120 Oakbrook Center
Oak Brook, IL 60523
May 19 – August 15, 2021
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Fridays and Saturdays: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sundays: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
