Cleve Carney Museum of Art — Attraction in Glen Ellyn

Visiting this exhibition was an absolutely wonderful experience! The staff was incredibly kind, attentive, and knowledgeable — always willing to explain and guide us through every detail.

The curation was masterfully done, designed as a story that takes you on a journey: from who Hokusai was, to the Ukiyo-e school, the artworks created, and even a recreated immersive space that reflects where these works originally came to life. It beautifully connects Hokusai’s influence to contemporary Chicago artists, and then leads you into how his legacy still lives on in manga today, with Hokusai often considered one of the very first mangaka in history.

One of the highlights was seeing an original of The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Truly breathtaking — no print or photo could ever do justice to its beauty.

The exhibition also includes a collection of silk garments from the period, interactive booths where you can create your own ukiyo-e style print, and a special space for children to enjoy: painting koi fish, folding origami, writing wishes on a sakura tree, or even coloring one eye on a Daruma while choosing a goal to pursue with effort and dedication. Every detail was so thoughtfully designed.

Outdoors, the bonsai display is absolutely stunning, and the gift shop is definitely worth a visit. Throughout the exhibition, you can even collect stamps from each section as a keepsake of your journey.

I traveled from far away to see this, and I leave with a full heart, feeling like I’ve experienced a small piece of Japan here in the U.S., portrayed with deep respect and admiration. This was truly unforgettable. Thank you for doing excellent work like this, and having such a deep respect for Art. You can tell quickly by the quality of...

Warning! They have restrictions that they do not notify you of prior to ticket purchase and prior to entry. They will deny you entry.

Summary of Events and Observations Regarding Camera Restrictions at the Hokusai Exhibit

Posted Signage: • Prior to entry and on the exhibit doors, signage listed the following restrictions: o Strollers Not Allowed o Food and Drink Not Allowed o Bags larger than 13” x 13” x 4” Not Allowed • Notably, cameras were not listed among the restricted items.

Digital Sources Reviewed: • Exhibit Website: No mention of camera restrictions. • Ticket Purchase Page: No indication of camera restrictions. • Email Receipt: No mention of camera use restrictions.

Aftermath: • Following the entry refusal, the exhibit owner sent an email stating a camera restriction—after the fact, which appears to be a retroactive justification rather than a genuine policy. • To further emphasize the inconsistency, I witnessed several women entering with bags clearly exceeding the stated size limit.

Had camera restrictions been posted clearly—on the website, the ticketing page, the confirmation email, or the physical signage—I would have abided by them without issue. The absence of transparency undermines the credibility of the policy and the owner’s...

I came for the Frida Kahlo exhibit and it was AMAZING! The outer exhibit had a lot of interesting educational content with photos of Kahlo and Rivera and a lot of background information (health issues, political, educational and family as well as the progression of her career.) There were replicas of some of her dresses, medical braces, and her bed. Inside the actual gallery were a couple dozen of her sketches and drawings- and photography was allowed! I spent 3 hours here, the guide info says 1.5 is average. I'm a quick reader but I know I missed some of the information because there was SO MUCH. Absolutely fantastic, worth the wait (plus the delay due to covid.) Anyone who loves her work must see this- it is closer and cheaper than the museums in Chicago, but the quality was really top notch. It was lovely to get so close to the paintings too- photographs don't even begin to capture the brush strokes and detail! There were pieces I have seen in print many times, but seeing them up close in person they were even better! I have half a mind to try to go back to pick up what...