Philip Johnson: A Visual Biography

by Ian Volner

Overview

A spectacular visual biography of one of the most celebrated architects and cultural icons of the twentieth century

With his elegant suits and trademark round black glasses, Philip Johnson - a witty, wealthy, and well-connected architect - was for many years the most powerful figure in the society and politics of his profession. This impressively illustrated book traces his seven decades of larger-than-life influence, innovation, and controversy in the realm of architecture and beyond. Hundreds of images and documents, many published here for the first time, trace the remarkable life and career of a true legend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780714876825
Publisher:	Phaidon Press
Publication date:	07/22/2020
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 11.70(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Philip Johnson is most celebrated for his role as the first director of the Architecture Department at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and for his home in Connecticut, the famous Glass House.

Ian Volner has published widely, including in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Harper's, and Artforum, and is a contributing editor at Surface and Architect. In 2016, his book This Is Frank Lloyd Wright was a recipient of the DAM Architecture Book Award. He lives in Manhattan.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/27/2020

Volner (Michael Graves: Design for Life) presents a grand look at legendary architect Philip Johnson’s remarkable life and career in this lavishly illustrated visual biography. Employing rare archival material such as photographs, ephemera, and personal correspondence, Volner reveals the power and influence of larger-than-life Johnson, “a hierophant for new thinking and new trends, both within his own profession and in adjacent creative fields.” Volner narrates the architect’s life: born to a wealthy family in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1906, Johnson traveled widely in Europe as a young man before discovering a passion for architecture. Becoming the first curator of the Department of Architecture at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in 1932, Johnson flirted dangerously with Nazism before finally establishing an architecture practice and achieving renown for his Glass House in New Canaan, Conn., in 1947. (Volner includes nearly 20 pages of images of the house.) Continually transforming himself and his field, Johnson would go on to help shape such New York City landmarks as the Seagram Building (in 1958), Lincoln Center (in 1969), and the AT&T building (in 1984). This accessible, thoughtful, and visually stunning work—it’s packed with more than 500 photographs—is perfect for architecture and modern art connoisseurs. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Volner presents a grand look at legendary architect Philip Johnson's remarkable life and career in this lavishly illustrated visual biography. Employing rare archival material such as photographs, ephemera, and personal correspondence, Volner reveals the power and influence of larger-than-life Johnson ... This accessible, thoughtful, and visually stunning work-it's packed with more than 500 photographs-is perfect for architecture and modern art connoisseurs."—Publishers Weekly

"Ian Volner's Philip Johnson: A Visual Biography (Phaidon) is a visually driven chronicle of a whole life."—1stdibs Introspective

[The] 400-page book demonstrates time and again, through each of Johnson's iterations-as a modernist, socialite, New York power broker, art collector, and finally, corporate postmodernist-he managed to shape America's architecture to an almost unfathomable degree." —Vogue online

"Lushly illustrated...this book traces his seven decades of influence, innovation, and controversy in the realm of architecture and beyond."—Publishers Weekly

"[The] 400-page book demonstrates time and again, through each of Johnson’s iterations—as a modernist, socialite, New York power broker, art collector, and finally, corporate postmodernist—he managed to shape America’s architecture to an almost unfathomable degree."—Bloomberg

From the Publisher