Cloud Gate and Chicago’s mirrored skyline
Published on 08/31/2026 at 21:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Cloud Gate in Chicago is a polished stainless steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park, completed in 2006. Its mirror-like surface turns the city into part of the work.
A mirrored form in Millennium Park
The sculpture stands at the centre of AT&T Plaza, where its smooth shell reflects the skyline and the clouds above. It measures 66 feet long and 33 feet high, with a 12-foot arch beneath its body.
The shape is rounded and continuous, with no visible seams across the surface. Its underside forms a concave chamber that visitors can walk beneath, a feature linked to the artist’s first public outdoor work in the United States.public outdoor work
Steel, reflection and scale
Cloud Gate is made from highly polished stainless steel plates. The finished shell weighs 110 short tons and gives the sculpture its bright, liquid appearance.
The title refers to the archway beneath the body of the piece, and the mirrored skin alters the view of nearby buildings. The work was unveiled in 2006, and it has become one of the clearest examples of Kapoor’s interest in reflective surfaces.unveiled in 2006
From sculpture to city landmark
The setting in Millennium Park places Cloud Gate among wide paving, planted edges and other major civic structures. The sculpture sits above AT&T Plaza in downtown Chicago, close to the Loop’s business streets.
Anish Kapoor’s name, the 2006 completion date and the stainless steel material give the work its basic identity. The piece is often called The Bean, but Cloud Gate remains the formal title and the more revealing one, because it describes the arch and the reflective surface together.formal title
Visiting Cloud Gate: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Cloud Gate stands in Millennium Park, at 201 E. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago. It is reached on foot from the Loop and by Chicago’s public transport network.
- The sculpture has a broad polished shell and a low opening beneath it. The ground around it is open and paved.
- The mirror finish reflects the skyline, people and clouds. The underside creates a second viewing point beneath the main body.
- The official language is English and the currency is the US dollar.
Searching for Cloud Gate on social platforms
These links open searches for Cloud Gate on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Cloud Gate
Where is Cloud Gate?
Cloud Gate is in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, at AT&T Plaza. It stands in the Loop, close to Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue.
What does a visit involve?
The sculpture can be seen from outside and from beneath the arch. Its polished steel surface reflects surrounding buildings and the sky in distorted panels.
What makes Cloud Gate distinctive?
Its smooth stainless steel skin and seamless finish give it a clear, recognisable form. The work combines a sculptural body with a passage beneath it.
