Selections from the Architecture and Design Collection
Galleries 283–286
Originally an archival collection tied to the Burnham Library, the collection of architecture and design has grown substantially in the last few years to include works at the forefront of the field. Seen for the first time in a space large enough to adequately display the depth of these holdings, the Modern Wing’s new installation roots the collection in its well-known objects of Chicago architecture but also demonstrates how the collection has been expanded to include architecture and design of national and international significance.
Upon entering, guests encounter some of the earliest works from the museum’s architecture collection, dating from the 1910s. This first gallery moves from these historically rich works—including objects by Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier—to a selection of some of the museum’s most contemporary architecture objects by Elizabeth Diller, Lindy Roy, and MOS (Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample). The space is punctuated by several works of post-1970s design, including tableware by Hella Jongerius, industrial design by Matali Crasset, and graphic design by Bruce Mau. Works in this display underline the coevolving relationship between architecture and design throughout history.
A second gallery features exclusively contemporary works of design, including chairs, stools, lighting, and textiles. The gallery builds to a crescendo with a 40-by-20-foot platform fashioned into three tiers. The range of works displayed within this structure by designers such as Ingo Maurer, Patricia Urquiola, and Patrick Jouin emphasize the diversity of progressive thinking and practice in design. The three-dimensional quality of this presentation is balanced by works created in other media, including graphic work by Marcia Lausen, Graphic Thought Facility, and Abbott Miller. As this new installation attests, architecture and design are powerful tools that play a central role in furthering an appreciation and understanding of the world around us.
This installation is organized by the Art Institute of Chicago.
Generous support of the museum's programming and outreach has been provided by Northern Trust.
This installation is dedicated in honor of Neville and John H. Bryan for their longstanding and generous support.
View more works from this collection.
Lindy Roy. Okavango Delta Spa, Botswana, 1997. Rendering by ROY Co. National Docent Symposium Fund.