Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean, is a public sculpture in Millennium Park at 201 E Randolph St in Chicago. Anish Kapoor’s polished stainless steel form bends reflections of the skyline, sky and people around it. Walk around the curved surface, then pass beneath the central arch to see reflections shift and multiply. It is free to visit and works as a short stop in the park, though the sculpture draws crowds. Go early or later in the day if you want more room for photos.
A sculpture shaped by reflection
Cloud Gate is the official name of the work commonly called The Bean. Artist Anish Kapoor designed the sculpture, whose rounded form was inspired by liquid mercury. Its mirror-like surface takes in the surrounding city and park, then bends those reflections across its curved shape. The result changes as you move: the skyline, the sky and people nearby appear in altered forms.
The sculpture is 33 feet high, 42 feet wide and 66 feet long. It is made from 168 stainless steel plates welded together. The joins are not visible on the finished exterior, leaving a continuous reflective surface. Cloud Gate sits in Millennium Park, at the center of AT&T Plaza.
Look from every side
Start by viewing the sculpture from outside, where the city skyline and nearby greenery appear across the polished steel. Moving around it gives you different angles and reflections, so a photograph from one side will not show the same view as a photograph from another. The surface also reflects people gathered around it, making the artwork an encounter with both the city and its visitors.
You can walk beneath the central arch. From there, the curved interior surface produces a more enclosed set of reflections, with people and shapes appearing distorted overhead and around you. Take a moment to look up as well as out; the change in viewpoint is part of seeing how the form works.
Cloud Gate in Millennium Park
The sculpture was made between 2004 and 2006 and unveiled in 2006. Its name refers to the arch-like opening through the work, while its familiar nickname comes from its bean-like outline. Cloud Gate is a public artwork, and admission is free.
The sculpture is one stop within Millennium Park, which also has green spaces and other public art. If you have time, continue exploring the park rather than treating the visit as a quick photograph alone. Cloud Gate attracts many people, particularly at popular sightseeing times. Early mornings and evenings are practical choices for a calmer look and clearer photographs.
Häufige Fragen
Is Cloud Gate free to visit?
Yes. The sculpture has free admission.
Can you walk under Cloud Gate?
Yes. You can pass beneath its central arch and see reflections on the curved inner surface.
When is a quieter time to visit Cloud Gate?
Early morning or evening is suggested for fewer crowds and easier photos.
