For those who call Optima Lakeview® or Optima Signature® home, one of the joys of city living is the easy access to Chicago’s thriving arts and cultural scene. Just a short trip from our communities, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) never fails to deliver cutting-edge exhibitions that reflect the dynamism and creative fervor of our city. This season, the MCA presents The Living End: Painting and Other Technologies 1970–2020, a thought-provoking show that explores the evolution of painting in tandem with technological and social changes over the past fifty years.

A Dialog Between Past and Present
Spanning five decades, The Living End examines how painting interacts with, and is influenced by, various forms of technology—from analog mechanical processes to cutting-edge digital tools. Rather than pit “traditional” painting against the tide of new media, this exhibition reveals the adaptable and enduring nature of the painted medium. It demonstrates that painting, far from being an outdated form, has consistently responded to cultural and technological shifts, resulting in works that are as much about the moment in which they were created as they are about the artists’ personal visions.
By showcasing pieces from the 1970s to the present, the exhibition offers a cross-generational dialogue. Visitors can see how older works—ones that used photography or industrial processes—sit alongside contemporary pieces integrating digital manipulations, computer graphics, and even social media references. It’s a vivid timeline of how artists continue to redefine what painting can be, linking classic practices with new media to broaden our understanding of art.
Artists and Themes to Watch For
The MCA’s The Living End brings together a diverse roster of artists, each contributing a perspective on painting’s evolving relationship with technology. Some pieces investigate how industrial or mechanical reproduction techniques can inform fine art, while others question the role of digital editing, social platforms, and even artificial intelligence in shaping an image. Along the way, you’ll encounter works that blend painting with collage, projection, sculptural elements, or interactive components.
Within these artworks, common threads emerge: an interrogation of authenticity, the shifting meaning of originality in an era of infinite reproducibility, and the role of the painter in an increasingly digital age. Even the subtlest pieces hint at the friction and synergy between the hand-crafted and the machine-made, prompting conversations about where painting fits into our 21st-century visual culture.
A Timely Exploration of Art’s Evolution
At Optima®, we value not only architectural innovation but also a broader sense of engagement with art and design in all forms. The Living End mirrors this ethos, spotlighting painting’s adaptability and its continuing relevance in a changing world—an outlook that resonates with how our own properties marry contemporary aesthetics and sustainability with timeless modernist principles.
By bridging eras, mediums, and conceptual frameworks, The Living End: Painting and Other Technologies 1970–2020 underscores the resilient and ever-evolving nature of creative expression. It reminds us that art, like architecture, evolves by integrating new ideas without discarding what came before. For Optima® residents seeking to stay connected with Chicago’s art scene, this exhibition is a brilliant reflection of art’s capacity to adapt, innovate, and inspire—even in times of monumental change.
Plan Your Visit
MCA Chicago is located just steps off the Magnificent Mile, making it a convenient cultural stop in the heart of downtown Chicago. And starting February 4, 2025, entrance to the MCA is free for Illinois residents between 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Be sure to check the MCA website for current opening times and any associated program events like talks or workshops tied to The Living End exhibition.
For those living at Optima Lakeview® or Optima Signature®, this exhibition offers an invitation to consider how art, technology, and daily life intersect, much like our communities strive to balance forward-thinking design with an enduring respect for quality and function. You may leave the MCA with fresh perspectives on how creative innovation can dovetail with tradition—an idea that resonates deeply with Optima®’s commitment to thoughtful architecture.