Learn More About Chicago's Picasso

Chicago Picasso Fun Facts

• Made entirely of Cor-Ten steel (which gives the sculpture and the Daley Center their unique rust color), the sculpture weighs a whopping 160 tons.  That’s 320,000 pounds!
• Picasso, who was commissioned to create this sculpture, never visited Chicago or the United States during his entire lifetime.
• Although Picasso designed the sculpture in his home country, the Chicago Picasso was fabricated not too far from Chicago – at the U.S. Steel Company in Gary, Indiana.
• The Chicago Picasso was the first monumental modern sculpture to be placed in the Loop.
• Sculptor Pablo Picasso never named his sculpture – nor did he ever explain what it represents.
• The Chicago Picasso is often seen celebrating different holidays, birthdays and sporting events by wearing a hat depicting each event.
• The first hat placed on top of the Chicago Picasso was made of Paper Mache – and created by a group of Spanish nuns.

What does the Chicago Picasso represent?

The three-dimensional sculpture looks different from every angle, something anyone strolling through the Daley Plaza will realize. Here are a few of the more popular beliefs about what the Chicago Picasso represents:

• Baboon: People often believe the sculpture is of a baboon; mainly because of the close-set eyes and flaring nostrils. Also, the copper maquette of the statue, created by Picasso in the preliminary stages of designing this sculpture, is titled, “Tête de Baboon,” or head of the baboon.
• Woman: Others feel that it is a sculpture of a woman; perhaps a woman named Lydia Corbette, who modeled for Picasso at the time. The flowing lines, soft curves and symmetry also portray a feminine feel. When viewed from certain angles, the sculpture can also take on the profile of a woman.
• Picasso’s Dog: Many also think that the sculpture is a cubist representation of Picasso’s Afghan hound. Strong similarities can be seen in the long, slender face as well as the dog’s long, flowing hair.
• Abstract Expression: Others believe that it is an abstract expression, and that everyone should respect it as such. The sculptures’ lines and angles were rooted strongly in Picasso’s cubist style and ideals.

Take your lunch to Daley Plaza and enjoy the statue as it is today!

Today, the Chicago Picasso stands as a figure and icon of the city of Chicago. If visited during the day, one is likely to see kids crawling on the base of  the sculpture and sliding down the front. The city also uses to statue to celebrate major events; birthdays, holidays, sports teams, and home openers. Several times throughout the year, the Chicago Picasso can be seen wearing a birthday hat, a Chicago Bears helmet, or White Sox, Cubs and Blackhawks caps. 

Picasso Poems

Letter to Picasso #2

by Emily Thornton Calvo

With a half city block
for a concrete canvas,
in a windy city
too small for your ego,
you doodled and designated
a daily fix of rusty beauty

in steel sheets and rods
this civic gift to lift
and inspire query
among people puzzled
over what had landed
in this canyon of windows.

With an artist’s eye
Dad drove us downtown
in our paneled Plymouth
to show how big art can be
we circled this plaza
for a three-quarter view
from behind the narrow nose

We found a woman whose tresses
sufficed as the answer,
whose face graced us
with a solid gaze.

She will outlast us,
forever spark conversations
between strangers
while we take hats off to her—
a gentle salute to
the mystery of art. 
 

Become a Fan of the Chicago Picasso on Facebook

 
Find the Picasso on Facebook!  Join the conversation about this Chicago icon and its celebratory nature. Share your thoughts, favorite memories and photos!

Chicago Picasso Documentary

 
Watch a clip of the documentary dedicated to the story and history of the Chicago Picasso!

Play the Picasso Slide Game!

 
The Picasso is one of Chicago's most beloved and recognizable icons, but kids also love to slide down its slanted base all year round! Test your skills in this game as you slide down the Picasso on a snowy Chicago day!

Chicago for Kids Audio Tour

 
Learn even more fun facts about the Chicago Picasso on the Chicago for Kids Audio Tour!