by Brian M. Ambroziak

In 1960, Michael Graves was awarded the American Academy in Rome's prestigious Prix de Rome. Having just completed his graduate studies in architecture, he embarked on a two-year "Grand Tour" that led to a lifelong fascination with the landscape, the culture, and the history of Italy. During this time, Graves was exposed to ideas about architecture that went well beyond his modernist upbringing.

Graves learned through recording his journeys, discussing what he saw with fellow travelers and scholars, and participating in Italian customs, how architecture and landscape affect our perception and connection to the richness of our surroundings, and how an architect may draw upon these lessons to develop his or her own personal design.

The sketches and photographs of Italy that Graves produced during these two years were visually imprinted on his mind. The impact of his experiences is revealed throughout the extensive body of his work, a resume that encompasses painting, graphic design, and industrial design, and an architectural portfolio that ranges from pavilions to city plans. Graves's drawings, paintings, and photographs illustrate the architect's process, the means of translating experiences into design.   >>>

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Arch of Constantine, drawn in pen and ink wash by Michael Graves during his stay at the American Academy in Rome in the early 1960s. Image: Michael Graves Arch of Constantine. Image: Michael Graves   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.