Best places to view art in the suburbs

The Art Institute of Chicago may be one of the world's most acclaimed art museums, but it doesn't hold a monopoly on art worth viewing in the region.

Throughout the suburbs, art of all forms is on display - both permanently and on rotation - at public colleges, contemporary galleries and outdoor spaces.

These are some of the collections worth checking out.

Public displays

• More than 40 murals, mosaics, reliefs, sculptures and other large pieces of arts can be viewed on Century Walk throughout downtown Naperville. Much of the collection pays tribute to the city's past, with community volunteers, Naperville-area graduates, former politicians and significant places and events as subjects. Most of the art is concentrated in the city's downtown. A good place to start is at Main Street and Jefferson Avenue. A map can be found at centurywalk.org.

• The work of sculptors from Greece, Germany, Israel, Norway and other countries is on display in Schaumburg at the Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park. The art, which is focused on the areas of discipline, architecture, industrial and product design, is spread out across 20 acres of meadow and forest. The park is located at 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.

• For something different, visit Rosemont, where a 300-foot by 15-foot mural depicting images of Mexican history and culture can be viewed near the Rosemont Recreation Center, 7128 Barry St. The paintings were done by a Chicago artist and eight local teenagers.

Galleries

• The Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County features a permanent collection of more than 600 works. There are eight exhibits a year at the gallery, including three that feature the work of Lake County residents. While on the Grayslake campus, walk around the grounds to admire the large, outdoor sculptures. The gallery is at 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake

• Oakton Community College in Des Plaines is home to the Koehnline Museum of Art, which features modern and contemporary art from various genres. the museum is located at 1600 E. Golf Road.

• On the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle, the Fr. Michael E. Komechak, O.S.B. Art Gallery features a collection of 3,800 pieces of fine art and sculptures. Much of the artwork has religious themes, but there is also a variety of contemporary work and pieces created by well-known artists. The campus sits at 5700 College Road.

• Later this year, the Schingoethe Art Gallery will reopen in the new welcome center on Aurora University's campus, 347 South Gladstone Ave. One wing of the building will house collections and exhibits for the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures, all oriented around the large central art gallery.

• In Crystal Lake, Lakeside Legacy Arts Park hosts monthly First Friday Art Shows, and is home to more than two dozen resident artists. It's all housed in the historic Dole Mansion near the shores of Crystal Lake, 401 Country Club Road.

Art in the suburbs

Century Walk - More than 40 murals, mosaics, reliefs and sculptures on display throughout downtown Naperville. <a href="http://centurywalk.org">centurywalk.org</a>.

Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park - Outdoor sculptures by international artists showcased on the grounds of Schaumburg's municipal center, 201 Schaumburg Court. <a href="http://www.ci.schaumburg.il.us/HFun/Sculpture/Pages/default.aspx">www.ci.schaumburg.il.us.</a>

Schingoethe Art Gallery - Reopening later this year in Aurora University's new welcome center on the southeast corner of campus. <a href="http://aurora.edu/museum/#axzz3L3i89lNf">aurora.edu/museum.</a>

Fr. Michael E. Komechak, O.S.B. Art Gallery - Located on the 5th floor of the Kindlon Hall of Learning at Benedictine University in Lisle. <a href="http://ben.edu/komechak-art-gallery/">ben.edu/komechak-art-gallery</a>.

Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art - Major cultural resource for Lake County artists on the College of Lake County Grayslake campus. <a href="">gallery.clcillinois.edu</a>.

Koehnline Museum of Art - Features modern and contemporary art from local artists and students. Oakton Community College in Des Plaines. <a href="http://www.oakton.edu/about/thearts/museum/">oakton.edu/about/thearts/museum</a>.

Rosemont mural - Mexican culture is depicted on a 15-by-300-foot mural across from the Rosemont Recreation Center, 7128 Barry St.