Friedrich St. Florian

Organized to complement Friedrich St. Florian: A Retrospective, currently on view at Brown University's David Winton Bell Gallery, the Museum's exhibition focuses on how the architect visualizes his ideas through drawing, primarily in two dimensions on paper, but even in three dimensions. Although not intended to cover St. Florian's entire career, studies from various periods of his working life provide insight into the thinking of this remarkably probing and inventive artist.

St. Florian (American, born Austria, 1932) quickly attained success as an architect in the progressive atmosphere of his native country working with his partner Raimund Abraham, yet both were drawn to New York. St. Florian came to this country on a Fulbright Fellowship to study at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, from which he received a Master of Science in Architecture in 1962. He began teaching at RISD in 1963. He served as RISD's Dean of Architecture and Design from 1978 to 1988 and as Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs from 1981 to 1984. He also was Chief Critic for RISD's celebrated European Honors Program in Rome from 1965 to 1967 and 1991 to 1993. Having profoundly influenced generations of students, he was named Professor Emeritus last year.

His work first gained international attention in the late 1960s with his landmark visionary and imaginary architecture. As a practicing architect since 1974, he has received even more critical acclaim for his built work. Rhode Islanders will likely be familiar with the many residences he has designed in our region and with his work as Design Architect for Providence Place Mall and its Skybridge. His most important commission came in 1997, when he was appointed Design Architect for the World War II Monument on the mall in Washington, D.C.

The exhibitions at Brown and RISD celebrate a lifetime of achievements, the most recent of which is a doctorate degree honoris causa from Brown University awarded during this year's commencement ceremonies. St. Florian will present a lecture, "Designing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.," on Saturday, May 27, at 1 pm in Brown's List Art Center Auditorium.

We are grateful to Friedrich St. Florian and Dietrich Neumann, Professor of History of Art and Architecture at Brown University, for their assistance with this exhibition.

Unless otherwise stated, works in the exhibition are from the collection of the artist.