Context:

James Rondeau, the president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago, took a voluntary leave after an incident on a flight to Germany where he reportedly stripped off his clothes. The incident occurred on April 18 after he consumed alcohol and prescription medication, prompting police intervention when the flight landed in Munich. The Art Institute confirmed the incident and has launched an independent investigation to gather more information. Rondeau, appointed in 2016, is known for his efforts to include works by women and artists of color in the museum's collection. The museum, founded in 1879, remains one of the country's leading institutions, recently receiving a $75 million donation to support its modern and contemporary art galleries.

Dive Deeper:

• James Rondeau, director of the Art Institute of Chicago, is under investigation following an incident on a flight to Germany where he was reported to have stripped off his clothes. This behavior reportedly occurred after Rondeau consumed alcohol and prescription medication during the flight.

• The Art Institute of Chicago has taken the incident seriously, confirming the events and initiating an independent investigation to gather all available information. Rondeau has taken a voluntary leave of absence during this period.

• Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is a prestigious museum with a $120 million operating budget and a staff of approximately 600. It attracts international visitors with its renowned art collections, including works by Seurat, Hopper, Cézanne, and van Gogh.

• In the previous year, the museum received a substantial $75 million donation from Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed to develop new galleries focusing on late-19th-century, modern, and contemporary art.

• Rondeau, whose compensation exceeds $1 million, has been influential in integrating artworks by women and artists of color into the museum's collection, reflecting a commitment to variety and balance in contemporary art.