The Personal Side of Philip Johnson at the Glass House
The architect Philip Johnson designed many of the most recognizable buildings that make up New York’s skyline: 550 Madison (formerly the headquarters of AT&T and Sony); the “Lipstick” building at 53rd and Third; the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center (now the David H. Koch Theater).
But one of his most iconic works is “The Glass House,” his home in New Canaan, CT. Built in 1949, it became a retreat for him and his longtime partner David Whitney.
A new temporary exhibit at the 50-acre property offers a window into their lives and the world of artists and architects they gathered around them.
“Personal Effect” presents several works from Johnson and Whitney's personal collection, of which several pieces have never been shown to the public. The showpiece is a large-scale blue and brown portrait of Johnson by Andy Warhol from 1972 that the artist gave to his friends as a birthday gift.
“I was trying to show the most personal relationships that Johnson and Whitney had,” said Hilary Lewis, chief curator and creative director the property. “This is very much about the things that both men lived with and had to strong connections to.”
The collection in the painting gallery, itself situated among the gardens and buildings that dot the property, reflects how art and design were intrinsic in Johnson’s life. Critics didn’t always laud his work (even Johnson could be critical of himself) and he often changed and experimented with different styles. In addition, his embrace of fascism and Nazism in his 20's and 30's, which he repudiated later in life, further complicates his legacy.
But Johnson did champion the work of other artists, architects and designers. Over the course of his life, he donated 2,200 works to the Museum of Modern Art where he played a central role, including serving as the first curator for its department of architecture (which he also funded). When he passed away in 2005 at the age of 98, he was one of the most well-known and influential architects of the 20th century.
The Glass House stands out as one of his earliest accomplishments and achievements. It is more than just one clear glass ode to the International Style; it is a monument to Johnson himself, and what he achieved.
"Personal Effect: Works from the Collection of Philip Johnson and David Whitney" through August 13, 2018 at the Glass House.
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