Michael Graves

Michael Graves (1934-2015) was an American architect and designer considered one of the most important signatures of Post-Modernism. Among the exponents of this current he was one of the most radical and extreme, with projects capable of often overemphasizing the more “pop” side and making extensive use of an often irreverent irony, as in the famous Team Disney Building in Burbank (1985-1990) on whose facade an imposing classical pediment is supported by a set of exceptional caryatids formed by the sculptures of the famous seven dwarfs that constitute one of the symbols of the studios. His early career was actually very far from these excesses: first a student and then a professor at Princeton University, Graves established himself at the end of the 1960s as one of the “New York Five”, five architects associated by critics for their ability to recover and reinvent the languages of Modernism typical of the 1930s. During the decade, however, Graves became increasingly interested in historical styles, reinterpreted in an eclectic manner and associated with completely new forms according to the typical language of that Post-Modernism that would perfectly embody the spirit of the 80s and would give him great international fame. Among his creations from this period, we remember the Portland City Hall (1982), considered the first post-modern office building in North America, and the Humana Building skyscraper in Louisville (1985). In the 90s, with the decline of post-modern fashion, his works would become more sparse; however, the Denver Public Library (1990-96), one of his most appreciated creations, belongs to that decade. Unlike many of his post-modern colleagues, Graves was then able to bring his style to the field of product design, establishing himself through some collaborations with important Italian companies: first the Memphis group, for which he created a series of exuberant furnishings, followed by a long collaboration with Alessi which culminated in the creation of an absolute best-seller such as the 9093 kettle. Michael Graves has also designed collections of watches and jewelry for Cleto Munari.