Philip Johnson: Curator. Architect. Critic. Gadfly

Philip C. Johnson (1906 – 2005), was one of the more influential American architects and architectural critics of the 20th century. But before Johnson had even designed his first building, he served as the first director of the Department of Architecture and Design for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. During this time, he introduced several notable European architects to the United States including Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, coining the term “International Style” along the way. Johnson was also known for his ongoing critique of American architects, in particular Frank Lloyd Wright.

Completed in 1949, Johnson’s Glass House, located in New Canaan, Connecticut earned him immediate attention as he entered the design phase of a lengthy career. Over the next 40 years, Johnson would go on to design a number of landmark buildings, setting the stage for the rise of post-modernism and contributing his own work to that controversial style with his AT & T Building in Manhattan (1984).

Our presenter, Jim Varner, examines the extraordinary life and work of Philip Johnson, winner of the very first Pritzker Prize for Architecture and a Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects. In addition to a survey of noted Johnson designs, along the way you’ll also learn about Johnson’s time in 1930s Germany, as well as his involvement right here in Portland, with the selection of Michael Graves’ design of the always-controversial Portland Building.

This lecture program is held at the Architectural Heritage Center - 701 SE Grand Avenue

Seating is Limited. Pre-Registration is Highly Recommended.

Parking is on-street (free on Saturdays) or in the parking lot on the west side of Grand Avenue between SE Yamhill and Belmont Streets - just to the north of the Urbanite. Thank you to Bolliger and Sons Insurance for sharing their lot with us for our evening and Saturday education programs.

Photo: Philip Johnson's Glass House, by Staib, courtesy of Wikipedia.