Jeff Wall's large-scale lightboxes are on view at the Art Institute of Chicago through September 23rd. Inspired by backlit bus station advertisements, the artist mounts photo transparencies onto aluminum boxes lit from within. Measuring an average of 6 x 8 feet, the artworks fill the museum galleries with a cinematic glow.

Wall creates complex stages for his photographs, like the above image titled After Invisible Man (1999-2000). The image recreates a scene from Ralph Ellison's famous novel: "I sat on the chair's edge in a soaking sweat, as though each of my 1,369 bulbs had every one become a klieg light..."

A full-color catalogue is available at the Museum Store, and the AIC website lists a series of special events held in conjunction with the show.

A view from an apartment, 2004-05

A Sudden Gust of Wind (After Hokusai), 1993

Milk, 1984