The Language of Michael Graves:
Architecture and Product Design

November 10 - April 10, 2002

Michael Graves, Swan Hotel, Disney World

Michael Graves, one of the most influential architects and designers of our era, was the subject of a survey exhibition in the main floor galleries of the Erie Art Museum.

In the forefront of architectural design since beginning his practice in 1964, Graves has defined Post Modernism in American architecture and become renowned for his interiors and custom-designed furnishings, as well as a wide range of product designs. Graves’ best-known architectural commissions include the Portland Building in Oregon, the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, the Humana Building in Louisville, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels in Disney World. His product design work ranges from the well-known high end line for the Italian manufacturer Alessi, to his current efforts for the American retailer Target, which currently features over 1,000 Michael Graves designs.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Michael Graves received his architectural training at the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University. In 1960 he won the Rome Prize and studied for two years at the American Academy in Rome, of which he is presently a Trustee. Although recently retired, Graves had been the Schirmer Professor of Architecture at Princeton University since 1962. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the Academy of Arts and Letters. Winner of the 2001 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, Graves and his firm, Michael Graves & Associates, have received over 100 other awards including 10 National Honor Awards and over 50 state awards.

This exhibition featured Graves’ drawings, architectural models, and a variety of Graves-designed products. Michael Graves is the architect for the new Discovery Square facility, which will house an expanded Erie Art Museum, the expERIEnce Children’s Museum and a Museum of Erie County History.