7 Chicago art openings to see in October

Through his large-scale street murals, paintings and sculptures, Japanese artist Tsuri (also known as TWOONE) juxtaposes human and animal forms, creating mythical creatures adorned with skulls, bones and antlers.

Artist Lucky Pierre assembles an extensive timeline that documents the U.S.-led war on terror, looking closely at the destruction and loss of human life that has been caused by it. The exhibit contrasts that actual cost of the conflict with the top-grossing domestic films from the past 16 years, demonstrating the values that are celebrated by popular culture.

Though she is relatively unknown outside of Latin American, painter Amaral was a key figure in Brazil’s modern art scene, taking the visual language she learned in Paris and bringing it back to her native county. "Inventing Modern Art in Brazil" focuses on her bold and colorful 1920s output, including many pieces sourced from private Brazilian collections.

Focusing on gender and the visual indicators that have traditionally signified masculine and feminine identities, “Disruptive Perspectives” collects photos that explore gender as an expansive, fluctuating and non-binary aspect of an individual’s identity.

The second part of the "We Are Here," a three-part exhibition that celebrates the MCA's 50th anniversary, "You Are Here" considers how the role of viewers has evolved. Contemporary art popularized the notion of turning passive observers of art into active participants, allowing museum guests to interact with (and sometimes touch) art objects. The exhibit includes pieces by Huang Yong-Ping, Pierre Huyghe and Robert Morris.

The final part of the MCA's 50th anniversary exhibition series "We Are Here," "We Are Everywhere" highlights the work of artists who draw inspiration from popular culture. You'll find pieces by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Jeff Koons in the galleries, as well as a selection of works that use new forms of media to explore various cultural influences.

When Russia became the Soviet Union in 1917, artists and designers reacted by creating a new visual language befitting of a revolutionary society. More than 550 works populate this exhibit, including Soviet-era posters, films, theater sets and even a recreation of a gallery exhibition room circa 1926, complete with much of the art that was originally displayed in it.