Michael Graves is an acclaimed American architect. Graves grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and recieved a bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree at Harvard University. He started his practice in Princeton, NJ in 1964. He became a professor at Princeton University in 1972.

Graves is a member of the “New York Five”, a group of New York architects whose work appeared in a Museum of Modern Art exhibition organized by Arthur Drexler in 1967, and the subsequent book Five Architects in 1972. He re-interpreted the rational style that had been introduced by Le Corbusier in the 1920s into a neoclassical style. By the mid-1970s, Graves had become less concerned with the roots of Modernism and had developed a wide-ranging eclecticism in which he abstracted historical forms and emphasized the use of color.

Michael Graves generates an ironic, vision of Classicism in which his buildings have become classical in their mass and order. Although influenced by the fundamentalists in developing an architectural language, Graves has become an an opponent of modern works who uses humor as an integral part of his architecture. Indeed, many of his recent designs seem to celebrate architectural pastiche and kitsch.

Alexander House, at Princeton, New Jersey, 1971 to 1973.
Crooks House, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1976.
Hanselmann House, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1967.
Portland Building, at Portland, Oregon, 1980.

Graves has been a receipiant of some of the most prestigious architectural awards including: 2001 Gold Medal American Institute of Architects, 1999 National Medal of Arts, and the $50,000 Frank Annunizo Award from the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation.

Not only is Graves an architect, but also has designed products such as furniture, lighting fixtures, jewelry, dinnerware. As well as for a variety of clients including: Alessi, Steuben and Disney. He has also teamed with Target to bring his designs to a wide variety of products

Michael Graves

Princeton Patron Magazine Article
Great Buildings Online Article
Architect Biography: Michael Graves