Man Stabbed at Art Institute of Chicago

The stabbing occurred in a garden housing Alexander Calder's 'Flying Dragon.'

Charges are pending against a 29-year-old man who allegedly stabbed another man in the neck outside the Art Institute of Chicago on the evening of June 10.

The stabbing occurred in the Art Institute’s south garden, which houses several large sculptures including Alexander Calder’s Flying Dragon.

Both men are homeless, according to DNAinfo, and the 57-year-old victim remains in critical condition.

Officials at the museum were able to provide a detailed description of the assailant, who was apprehended after fleeing the scene. He currently faces charges of either aggravated battery or attempted murder.

“I’m surprised that something like this would happen outside the art museum, especially on a day like today with so many people out,” said a local resident.

The Art Institute of Chicago's south garden.

The Art Institute of Chicago’s south garden.

Strangely, this isn’t the first time this year that violence has broken out in close proximity to a museum. In the Dutch city of Groningen, a man was shot and killed by police after threatening to stab museumgoers with two large meat cleavers (see Man Killed in Attack on Art Museum).

The Art Institute of Chicago was recently named the world’s favorite museum by TripAdvisor, an accolade we hope won’t be diminished by this act of violence (see The Art Institute of Chicago is the World’s Favorite Museum).

In more positive news, Chicago plastics mogul Stefan Edlis donated $500 million to the institution in April as well as a trove of artworks that included three Jasper Johns paintings, two Roy Lichtenstein canvases, and a Cy Twombly sculpture (see Plastics Mogul Stefan Edlis Donates $500 Million to Art Institute of Chicago)


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