The Art of Architecture, a circulating exhibition of the work of Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, completed a two month stay at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1998. This is the first venue in the United States since the exhibition completed the European leg of its worldwide ten-year tour, and a visit to South America for a showing in Saõ Paulo, Brazil during the Architecture Biennale in November of 1997. A mini-version of the exhibition was displayed at the White House ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June of 1998. It should be noted that The Art Institute of Chicago opened a completely new exhibit on the Pritzker Prize in the spring of 1999 with a book on the prize being published simultaneously. Further details are available on the web site at artic.edu. 

The Art of Architecture made its European premiere in Berlin at the Deutsches Architektur Zentrum in July and August of 1995. Another European venue was at the Karntens Haus der Architektur in Klagenfurt, Austria in March and April of 1996. Prior to that, all the exhibition venues had been in the United States, finishing the year 1994 at the Gallery of Fine Art, Edison Community College in Ft. Myers, Florida. The exhibit's world premiere was at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago in 1992. From there it went to the Fine Arts Gallery at Texas A&M University; the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.; The J. B. Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky; the Canton Art Institute, Ohio; the Indianapolis Museum of Art Columbus Gallery, Indiana; the Washington State University Museum of Art in Pullman, Washington; and the University of Nebraska. 

The exhibit's title is derived from the stated purpose of the prize, "...established by The Hyatt Foundation in 1979 to honor annually a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture."

According to Bill Lacy, executive director of the distinguished international prize jury, "The exhibit has been designed to present a survey of representative works by the recipients of the world's highest honor in architecture. While the prize has captured significant world wide attention, this exhibition will carry the message to a broader public by creating an opportunity to view a sampling of Laureates' works in museums, libraries and other corporate and institutional settings. It carried forward the purpose of the prize stimulating viewers to a greater awareness of their surroundings, particularly in terms of architectural excellence." 

Exhibition at 
Texas A & M University 

In its first year, the exhibit comprised works by the first fifteen Pritzker Laureates. Each successive year, works by that year's prize winner have been added. 

Each of the first fifteen Laureate's work is represented on a large 3-panel folded screen, eight feet tall and nine feet wide. One side of the screen is a full color photographic enlargement of one building. The reverse of the screen is filled with smaller photos and drawings of the architect's work. In addition, a three-dimensional model of one of the architect's buildings is featured on a free standing pedestal with lucite cover. 

An Identification Tower provides additional details in graphic and text form, as well as housing a video monitor with continuous taped information (approximately 10 minutes) on the architects, their work, and how the prize is bestowed each year in different locations throughout the world. This tape is intended for viewing in the exhibition area. 

The exhibit required 4200 square feet, using the panels and pedestals as free standing objects throught the gallery space. The units are designed to be flexible, however, and can be used flat against walls, with the smaller items hung on existing gallery walls. The latter configuration would require less square footage, but would diminish the effect of walking around and through the architecture. 

The exhibition tour was managed by Landau/Travelling Exhibitions They may be contacted by e-mail: landau@a-r-t.com. 

Thomas D. Sullivan, architecture critic for The WashingtonTimes, urged in his review, "Go...(to the exhibit) for a clear, capsulized view of the architecture of our age. The exhibit offers a good overview of some of the best — and most typical — buildings of the past five decades. It's a real treat to see so much of the best architecture of our time in one show here." And, "The color photographs are very good...each display offers a summary of the designers career, which is helpful in getting a feel for his direction...There are many good things to see in The Art of Architecture." 

Progressive Architecture's review said at the exhibit's debut: "The handsome exhibition is made up of freestanding panels, one devoted to each of the 15 Pritzker winners...conveys powerfully the range of work acknowledged by the awards over the mere 13 years of their existence and suggests something important about their essential integrity: quality, rather than fashion, is rewarded...The show will be remembered as it is first seen—a series of powerful images...This is an exhibition about achievements, and there are great ones here." 

Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, Illinois
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
National Building Museum,Washington, D.C. 
J. B. Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky 
Canton Art Institute, Ohio 
Indianapolis Museum of Art Columbus Gallery, Indiana 
Washington State University Museum of Art, Pullman, Washington  University of Nebraska, Lincoln Nebraska 
Gallery of Fine Art, Edison Community College, Ft. Myers, Florida  The German Architecture Center, Berlin, Germany
Karntens Haus der Architektur, Klagenfurt, Austria
Sao Paulo, Brazil during the Architecture Biennale
Provo, Utah,  Brigham Young University