Architecture + Photography

This exhibition, featuring an array of works from the Heinz Architectural Center and Carnegie Museum of Art’s photography collection, demonstrates the wonderfully rich symbiosis between architecture and photography.

Four groups of objects explore this relationship in just a few of its many forms. A newly acquired portfolio of iconic Modernist buildings by famed architectural photographer Ezra Stoller reveals how his imagery helped shaped public perception of Modernism. A selection of photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston of historic buildings in Charleston, SC, reflects on photography as document and form of preservation of our changing built environment; a range of photographs from the early 20th century of important sites and buildings from around the world reveal a pre-Internet desire to connect people virtually to far-flung sites and monuments. Finally, a selection of images from the museum’s photography department—including works by Richard Artschwager, Dan Graham, and W. Eugene Smith—reveal how artists have responded to architectural forms and imagery in their work. Together, this intriguing selection of photographs inspires visitors to ask questions while learning about the multifaceted and complex relationship between architecture and photography.

This exhibition is organized by Tracy Myers, curator of architecture, and Alyssum Skjeie, curatorial assistant.