This small gallery sits on a corner in downtown Chicago, home of the Chicago campus for the Illinois Institute of Art, and features work by professional artists in Chicago and around the world. The gallery must be entered through the admissions office and past a series of turns and twists, but the trek proves worthwhile once inside. The room offers peaceful and comfortable options for reflection, surrounding viewers in a cocoon of slate tile floors, comfy earth-toned chairs and cushions and white walls, impervious to the hustle and bustle of the city clearly visible from the perimeter windows.

Typical exhibits include "CTA – Dawn to Dusk," which highlighted photographs of sparsely populated CTA stations by Keith Hackett, and a showing of three-dimensional, mixed media work by Yvett Kasier Smith.

For a special treat, plan your visit around dining hours at the Back Stage Bistro, the student-run restaurant located next door, recently featured on Rachel Ray’s $40 a Day dining show. Call ahead (312-475-6920) for times, menu specials and reservations, or check out the menu on display before you enter the gallery.