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Today
  • Rare Book School Lecture: Publishing in the Renaissance: Christophe Plantin’s Business Strategy
    Rare Book School Lecture: Publishing in the Renaissance: Christophe Plantin’s Business Strategy
    5:30pm @ Harrison Auditorium of the Albert and Shriley Small Special Collections Library
  • Close
Tomorrow
  • Celebration
    Celebration
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Structures
    Structures
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Tots & Dots: July
    Tots & Dots: July
    10:00am @ Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA
  • COMMUNITY EVENT • Artists in Conversation: Nikki Painter + Lauren Rice
    COMMUNITY EVENT • Artists in Conversation: Nikki Painter + Lauren Rice
    5:30pm @ Second Street Gallery
  • UNFORGIVEN
    UNFORGIVEN
    7:00pm @ Violet Crown Charlottesville
  • Close
Friday, July 11
  • COMMUNITY EVENT • The Pirates of Penzance
    COMMUNITY EVENT • The Pirates of Penzance
    July 11 - 7:00pm | July 12 - 2:00pm | July 13 - 2:00pm @ The Paramount Theater
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters at Offbeat Roadhouse
    Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters at Offbeat Roadhouse
    8:00pm @ The Stage at WTJU
  • Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters on WTJU's Offbeat Roadhouse!
    Brandon Wayne & His Lonesome Drifters on WTJU's Offbeat Roadhouse!
    8:00pm @ WTJU 91.1 FM
  • Close
Saturday, July 12
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Sunday, July 13
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    2:00pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Ongoing events this week
  • Structures
    Structures
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Celebration
    Celebration
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • In the Beginning: Paintings by Senior Artists of the Spinifex Arts Project
    In the Beginning: Paintings by Senior Artists of the Spinifex Arts Project
    Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 4pm @ Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA
  • Between Hand and Scroll: Torah Pointers from the Barr Collection
    Between Hand and Scroll: Torah Pointers from the Barr Collection
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    M, Tu, F: 9-5pm // W, Th: 9-7pm // Sa: 12-4pm @ Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at UVA
  • Joan Mitchell: Uncovering 100 Years
    Joan Mitchell: Uncovering 100 Years
    10:00am @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Close
Monday, July 14
  • EDDINGTON
    EDDINGTON
    7:00pm @ Violet Crown Charlottesville
  • Close
Tuesday, July 15
  • KILL THE JOCKEY
    KILL THE JOCKEY
    7:00pm @ Violet Crown Charlottesville
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Wednesday, July 16
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Thursday, July 17
  • Structures
    Structures
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Celebration
    Celebration
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Summer 2025 Teacher Professional Development Workshop: Writing with Art
    Summer 2025 Teacher Professional Development Workshop: Writing with Art
    10:00am @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
    MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
    7:00pm @ The Paramount Theater
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Friday, July 18
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Queen City Porch Swingers at Offbeat Roadhouse
    Queen City Porch Swingers at Offbeat Roadhouse
    8:00pm @ The Stage at WTJU
  • Close
Saturday, July 19
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    2:00pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Babe Lewis, Presented by Third Rail
    Babe Lewis, Presented by Third Rail
    8:00pm @ The Looking Glass
  • Close
Sunday, July 20
  • Joan Mitchell: Uncovering 100 Years
    Joan Mitchell: Uncovering 100 Years
    10:00am @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • The Heart Sellers
    The Heart Sellers
    2:00pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Monday, July 21
  • Museum Closed for Exhibition Changeover: July 21 - August 29
    Museum Closed for Exhibition Changeover: July 21 - August 29
    All day @ The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
  • Rare Book School Lecture: Books for Virginia 1620: America’s First Public Library?
    Rare Book School Lecture: Books for Virginia 1620: America’s First Public Library?
    5:30pm @ UVA Edgar Shannon Library: Room 330
  • Close
Wednesday, July 23
  • Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    9:00am @ Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at UVA
  • Rare Book School Lecture: Iconographic Disjunction in the Ruskin Psalter/Hours: A Flemish Illuminated Manuscript of ca. 1470–80
    5:30pm @ Harrison Auditorium of the Albert and Shriley Small Special Collections Library
  • Close
Thursday, July 24
  • Jen Chapin Trio
    Jen Chapin Trio
    7:30pm @ Belmont Arts Collaborative
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Friday, July 25
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Saturday, July 26
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    2:00pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    7:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Sunday, July 27
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    2:00pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Get Happy!
    Get Happy!
    5:30pm @ Drama Building at UVA
  • Close
Monday, July 28
  • Rare Book School Lecture: Curious and Creative Women
    Rare Book School Lecture: Curious and Creative Women
    5:30pm @ UVA Edgar Shannon Library: Room 330
  • Close
Thursday, August 14
  • COMMUNITY EVENT • 2025 Southern Living Idea House
    COMMUNITY EVENT • 2025 Southern Living Idea House
    Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm & Sun 12pm-5pm @ Keswick Hall & Golf Club
  • Close
Friday, August 15
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • Close
Thursday, August 21
  • Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    Seeing Stars: The University’s Earliest Observatories
    9:00am @ Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at UVA
  • Close
Friday, September 19
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • Close
Friday, October 17
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • Close
Friday, November 21
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • Close
Friday, December 19
  • CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Stay Tuned for Speakers & Themes!!
    8:30am @ Charlottesville VA
  • Close
Sunday, January 11
  • Tjukurpa | Handle It: Robert Fielding
    Tjukurpa | Handle It: Robert Fielding
    10 am- 4pm, Tuesday- Sunday @ Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA
  • Close

Skyscraper Gothic

The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA

Wed, Sep 1, 2021 - Dec 31, 2021
All day

Skyscraper Gothic charts the evolution and influence of this critical, but overlooked, phase in the stylistic development of the tall office building in the United States.
FULL DESCRIPTION

The Fralin Museum of Art premieres the first exhibition to investigate how European Gothic architecture was used to create a new language of skyscrapers in the United States in the first three decades of the 20th century. Architects and the general public embraced medieval Gothic as an effective expression of the skyscraper’s height and the dynamism of the modern age. However, prominent buildings such as the Woolworth Building in New York and the Chicago Tribune Building were often dismissed by some critics for their Gothic elements. Skyscraper Gothic charts the evolution and influence of this critical, but overlooked, phase in the stylistic development of the tall office building in the United States. Through prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, toys, models, illustrations and decorative arts, the exhibition will demonstrate how skyscraper Gothic design permeated material culture in the early 20th century and became an emblem of modern American life. 

Skyscraper Gothic is organized by The Fralin Museum of Art and curated by Lisa Reilly, Commonwealth professor of architectural history at the University of Virginia, and Kevin Murphy, Andrew W. Mellon chair in the humanities and professor and chair of the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Vanderbilt University.

Skyscraper Gothic will shed new light on a key and misunderstood period of architecture that became the quintessential sign of American modernism’s power,” said Matthew McLendon, J. Sanford Miller Family director at The Fralin. “It is fitting that The Fralin, at the heart of a university known worldwide for its architecture and architectural history programs, would engage with this under-researched topic at a time when the skyscraper has returned to the forefront of architectural production in the U.S.” 

From newly discovered drawings of the Woolworth Building from Cass Gilbert’s office to Paul Frankl furniture inspired by the 1916 setback laws, Skyscraper Gothic will gather a wide range of visual culture in four sections: introduction, construction, buildings and replication. In the process, the exhibition will demonstrate that these buildings were more than simply architectural phenomena: they were cultural artifacts that exerted a strong influence on writers, painters, printmakers, designers, filmmakers and more.

In the early 20th century, architects and patrons strove to find an appropriate decorative vocabulary for the skyscraper. The unprecedented height of the buildings, as well as their novel metal-frame structural systems, posed design challenges that were met in a variety of ways. Modern architects, starting with Louis Sullivan in the late 19th century, advocated skyscraper design that visually expressed the underlying frame. Others sought to adapt historic prototypes to the new architectural type. Medieval Gothic architecture — as soaring and inspiring as skyscrapers — proved to be a compelling model for a short period and led to the Art Deco style, which retained Gothic motifs.

Among the most beloved examples of American architecture, Gothic skyscrapers such as the Woolworth (1913), Chicago Tribune (1925) and Radiator (1924) buildings sparked a wave of buildings, objects and images that exploited their forms to announce the advent of a modern American style. Yet modernist critics disdained those skyscrapers that adopted the vocabulary of medieval architecture. The use of historicist ornament on steel frame buildings was considered out of step with modernism, even though the work of medieval masons and modern engineers was believed to be conceptually linked. As Gothic skyscrapers were built in the 1920s and 1930s in New York, Chicago and Detroit, the style was appropriated in smaller American cities — such as Atlanta, Fort Wayne, Winston-Salem and Oakland, California.

The book, “Skyscraper Gothic: Medieval Style and Modernist Buildings,” edited by Kevin D. Murphy and Lisa Reilly, is available from UVA Press.

Museum Hours Tuesday: 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday: 10 am – 5 pm Thursday: 10 am – 5 pm Friday: 10 am – 8 pm Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm Closed Monday
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
155 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
434-924-3592
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