CHICAGO – A century after the Art Institute of Chicago became the first American museum to show work by Pablo Picasso, the institution is celebrating the Spanish artist with a major exhibition featuring his art and its relationship with the city.

“Picasso and Chicago” features 250 works – nearly half of the museum’s own Picasso collection along with pieces from private collections and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s the Chicago museum’s first major Picasso exhibition in three decades.

“One of my hopes is that people can appreciate the art and enjoy it, but then also at the same time, sort of fall back in love with these works for the history that they represent,” exhibit curator Stephanie D’Alessandro said.