Remembering Michael Graves: Photo Essay by Peter Aaron

On March 12, 2015, the architecture and design world lost one of its greats: Michael Graves, whose wide-ranging practice included pioneering Post-modernism to popular products for the likes of Alessi, Target and J.C.Penney. With some thousands of design to his name, Graves is gone but certainly not forgotten, and his legacy will endure both in the built environment and cupboards the world over.

In memory of Graves, photographer Peter Aaron shared an exclusive selection of archival photos with Architizer along with the personal note below.

There were five architects who were initially named as torchbearers for the new movement christened Post-Modernism: The New York Five. I was lucky enough to hitch my wagon to Michael Graves’ star in those early days.

His classical shapes, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian, were used in offbeat ways that made the buildings fun to shoot, owing to the strong colors and shapes. The Portland Municipal Building and the Humana Building were full of lyrical yet dignified surprises. The residences had warmth and sometimes custom-painted murals (as pictured below).

Michael Graves was a pleasure to work with. He was a great collaborator in that he trusted the photographer to show his work in the best possible light. I have fond memories of him and wish he could have stuck around longer.

–Peter Aaron, March 19, 2015