#1 Art & Architecture Event
The event is North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors. Held at the sprawling Merchandise Mart, it draws more than 40,000 architecture and design professionals. The 700 exhibitors showcase innovative goods for a range of vertical markets, including healthcare and government. This year’s event had an expanded award program, Next: June 15-17, 2015
#2 Art & Architecture Event (up from #3)
In 2013, the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art featured works from 125 leading art galleries from 36 international cities. The four-day event, held on Navy Pier, drew 30,000 visitors. The highly stylish exhibition is designed by star architect Jeanne Gang and has a splashy opening-night party to benefit the Museum of Contemporary Art. Next: September 18-21, 2014
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#3 Art & Architecture Event
Sculptural Objects and Functional Art is Chicago’s longest continuously running art fair. The event, which typically attracts 30,000 visitors, was purchased by Urban Expositions last year. The show management company plans to develop a new art-and-design-fair division, which will have SOFA as its flagship. Connect, a student-design exhibition and competition, was new to the event in 2013. Next: October 31-November 2, 2014
#4 Art & Architecture Event
Dubbed “Beauty and the Feast,” last year’s showcase of tabletop design included detailed vignettes from prominent architects, artists, and interior designers. The three-day event includes an opening cocktail party that draws 1,000 guests; there’s also a popular public viewing, a tasting event, and a glamorous closing-night gala. Proceeds from Dining by Design benefit the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Next: November 6-8, 2014
#5 Art & Architecture Event
Billed as one of the country’s top art fairs, the event includes a garden walk, a children’s corner, and a music stage. It typically draws 40,000 art lovers to Old Town and showcases works from about 250 artists who specialize in everything from mixed media to drawing, painting, and print making. Next: June 2015
#6 Art & Architecture Event
In 2013, the edgy event took place at the museum’s warehouse for the first time and had a factory theme that saw servers ironing out paninis and serving soup out of giant (clean) trash cans. This year’s event will celebrate the new "David Bowie" Is exhibition. The event drew 500 guests and raised $900,000. Next: September 20, 2014
#7 Art & Architecture Event
The museum’s largest annual fund-raiser always corresponds with the opening of a major exhibition. This year’s June affair celebrates the currently running Magritte exhibition, dubbed “Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary.” The evening includes dinner, cocktails, and exhibition viewing throughout the evening. Next: June 2015
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#8 Art & Architecture Event
The 58th iteration of the prestigious award ceremony last took place at Navy Pier in October 2013. With big-name sponsors such as Benjamin Moore and Gensler, the evening presented awards in categories such as “Divine Detail” and “Sustainability” in front of an audience of 800 industry professionals. Next: Fall 2014
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#9 Art & Architecture Event
Held during NeoCon at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, the black-tie gala honored the winners of two highly prestigious industry awards: the 41st annual Interior Design Competition and the 22nd annual Will Ching Design Competition. The splashy affair draws interior designers and design manufacturers from around the world. Next: June 2015
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#10 Art & Architecture Event
The Illinois Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council hosts this highly regarded industry function, which honors eco-minded business leaders, government officials, and building practitioners. Held in May, this year’s event took place at the Museum of Broadcast Communications and doled out Emerald Awards to companies such as Walgreens. It drew 460 guests and had a new V.I.P. reception before the award ceremony. Next: Spring 2015
