Janna Ireland on the Architectural Legacy of Paul Revere Williams in Nevada features the contemporary photography of Janna Ireland exploring the important contributions of architect Paul R. Williams (1894-1980) in Nevada.
Williams was the first licensed African American architect to work in the western region of the United States and and the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” his clients included Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and E.L. Cord. Although Williams is associated with several Los Angeles icons, including the Beverly Hills Hotel and the LAX Airport, his work, including his many contributions in Nevada, is often under-recognized. In 2017, nearly 40 years after his death, he became the first black recipient of the AIA Gold Medal.
In 2016, Janna Ireland was invited by architect Barbara Bestor, Executive Director of the Julius Shulman Institute in Los Angeles, to photograph structures in southern California designed by Williams. Unlike conventional architectural photography that is intended to document every detail, Ireland’s shadowy photographs conjure a moody richness, inviting viewers to focus on unique architectural elements and how they may be experienced. In 2021, she was named a Peter E. Pool Research Fellow of the Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art to support her study of Williams’ work in Nevada, which includes residential homes, commercial properties, and religious institutions.
This exhibition was organized by the Nevada Museum of Art.
Curator: Carmen Beals
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This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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Images
Images
Janna Ireland on the Architectural Legacy of Paul Revere Williams in Nevada features the contemporary photography of Janna Ireland exploring the important contributions of architect Paul R. Williams (1894-1980) in Nevada.
Williams was the first licensed African American architect to work in the western region of the United States and and the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects. Nicknamed “Architect to the Stars,” his clients included Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and E.L. Cord. Although Williams is associated with several Los Angeles icons, including the Beverly Hills Hotel and the LAX Airport, his work, including his many contributions in Nevada, is often under-recognized. In 2017, nearly 40 years after his death, he became the first black recipient of the AIA Gold Medal.
In 2016, Janna Ireland was invited by architect Barbara Bestor, Executive Director of the Julius Shulman Institute in Los Angeles, to photograph structures in southern California designed by Williams. Unlike conventional architectural photography that is intended to document every detail, Ireland’s shadowy photographs conjure a moody richness, inviting viewers to focus on unique architectural elements and how they may be experienced. In 2021, she was named a Peter E. Pool Research Fellow of the Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art to support her study of Williams’ work in Nevada, which includes residential homes, commercial properties, and religious institutions.
This exhibition was organized by the Nevada Museum of Art.
Curator: Carmen Beals
-
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
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