River East Art Center

The history of River East Art Center begins with the history of River East, the city’s most spectacular lakefront neighborhood.

In recent years MCL Companies has created the largest, and undoubtedly most ambitious, mixed-use urban development in the country... 13 acres bounded by the Chicago River, Grand Avenue, Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive... a neighborhood bridging North Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier with major hotels, dozens of restaurants, retailers, recreational opportunities and up to 2,500 residences.

The neighborhood has arrived. The stage is now set for River East Art Center, MCL’s daring vision of River East’s artistic, cultural hub.

The Mission of River East Art Center can best be expressed by the Mandala, the universal, ancient diagram River East Art Center has adopted as its logo. (One such Mandala is pictured here. However, the Mandala can take on infinite forms.) The Mandala is symbolic of individuals coming together to create something larger then themselves, while maintaining personal uniqueness.

We consider River East Art Center to be Chicago’s embodiment of Mandala – a place of enrichment, expression and inspiration... a place to discover fine art, and the finer things in life... a place of community, ideas, poetry, performances, lavish galas and corporate affairs. Moreover, it is a place of surpassing beauty – breathtaking spaces, dazzling views, daring architecture. In the coming years, River East Art Center will give rise to stunning works of importance – masterpieces to be discovered and cherished by local residents.

As a neighborhood resource, it will bring sophisticated Chicago residents and artists together, and forward, into a new age of growth, expression and appreciation of life, for each individual, and for the community as a whole.