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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania
On view through Monday, March 17, 2025
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania presents both realized and unrealized projects Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the region from the 1930s through the 1950s. The exhibition examines how his vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.
Realistic animated films, created by Skyline Ink Animators + Illustrators, provide, for the first time, a virtual exploration of five unrealized Wright projects for Southwestern Pennsylvania. These include a monumental reimagining of the Point (1947), a self-service garage for Kaufmann’s Department Store (1949), the Point View Residences designed for the Edgar J. Kaufmann Charitable Trust (1952), the Rhododendron Chapel (1952), and a gate lodge for the Fallingwater grounds (1941). Using three-dimensional rendering technology to choreograph camera paths and to shape lighting to produce the same type of visual effects used in the film industry, Skyline Ink’s resulting animations will be presented throughout the exhibition to provide a multimedia experience. A viewing theater will envelop visitors to show an expanded film of the three unrealized Pittsburgh designs. To further engage the senses, the film will feature an accompanying musical score by Daniel May with Marty Ashby and produced by MCG Jazz. Viewers will take a journey into Wright’s creative mind, exploring architecture from an artistic perspective, with emphasis on his intended materials, textures, light and shadow.
The exhibition is generously supported by The Heinz Endowments, The Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and Wendy and David Barensfeld.
Specials thanks to The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, The Museum of Modern Art, and Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York.
Due to their light-sensitive nature, all materials from the Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library are printed reproductions. Please visit their Frank Lloyd Wright Collections site for more details about the collection and research access.
Additional support provided by The Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation.
Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Partnership
The National Building Museum and Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House have partnered to offer a reciprocal discount of $5 off admission to ticket holders at each institution. Purchase a ticket at one site and show proof of purchase at the other site for $5off admission at that site from Saturday, April 13 through December 31, 2024 (please note that Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House will open for the season on April 25). This discount is redeemable only in-person on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability. The discount follows a 1:1 ratio, meaning the number of tickets purchased at one site corresponds to the number of tickets eligible for the discount at the other site. To claim the discount, visitors must present a digital or physical receipt. Please check each site’s website for updates and availability before your visit.
