Fashion Outlets of Chicago doesn’t just have dozens of popular stores — it also houses a lot of beautiful art on display.

Home to more than 130 designer outlets, Fashion Outlets of Chicago opened in 2013 in Rosemont, Illinois, just west of Chicago. Along with the stores, curated artwork is placed throughout the mall. As the artwork expanded, it eventually became known as THE COLLECTION: Where Art Meets Fashion.

A multifaceted art program, it includes permanent annual commissions by world-renowned artists as well as rotating exhibits. THE COLLECTION also became the launching pad for art-related events throughout the year.

Some of the artwork subtly blends in with the architecture, such as Daniel Arsham’s Falling Time and Friendswithyou’s Rainbow Wash. Although beautiful, these pieces can be overlooked. I still don’t know if the fun light fixtures by one of the entrances is artwork, but they are cool either way.

Falling Time

Other exhibits, such as Chad Kouri’s Art for All, are so big and bold, they are impossible to miss, despite being part of the architecture. Rotating exhibits are glass-enclosed and scattered around the mall. These also include short descriptions of the artist and artwork.

Art for All

I spend a lot of time in Rosemont, watching pro softball and minor league baseball and attending conventions at Donald Stephens Convention Center. I always try to squeeze in a quick visit to the mall to check out any new art exhibits.

— John Wroblewski, online writer