The sculpture's surface is composed of 168 individual stainless steel plates polished to a mirror finish.
The structure weighs approximately 110 tons, requiring significant support beams to be integrated into the plaza's foundation beneath the park's parking garage.
The underside, called the omphalos, is 12 feet high at its peak and acts as a chamber of reflections.
The sculpture was designed to be cleaned twice daily by hand, with an additional deep cleaning performed annually.
Despite its seamless appearance, the sculpture has an internal framework made of complex tubular steel ribs.
The stainless steel plates were shaped by robots using large-scale 3D modeling and were then manually hand-finished.
Cloud Gate, colloquially known as 'The Bean,' is a 110-ton stainless steel sculpture designed by British artist Anish Kapoor. Located in AT&T Plaza within Millennium Park, it serves as the centerpiece of the park's public art collection. The sculpture is constructed from 168 stainless steel plates welded together with their seams ground smooth to create a seamless, mirror-like exterior. It measures 33 feet high, 42 feet wide, and 66 feet long. The concave underside, known as the 'omphalos,' creates a multi-layered reflection effect for viewers standing beneath it. Its surface reflects and distorts the Chicago skyline and surrounding park visitors. The sculpture is permanently installed as a major public landmark in the downtown area. As of June 2026, the area surrounding the sculpture is open to the public following extensive plaza renovation work completed in 2024.
From the center of the underside to capture a 'fish-eye' effect of the skyline, or from a distance to get the entire horizon reflected in the curve.
Visit during the early morning hours to capture reflections of the city without large crowds.
Walk underneath the central arch to experience the distorted, panoramic 'omphalos' reflection effect.
Bring a cleaning cloth if you intend to touch the surface, as oils from hands leave visible prints.
Touching the surface with greasy fingers or abrasive materials, as the mirror finish is prone to smudging and light scratching.
Do not climb on the sculpture or use items that could scratch the stainless steel surface.
