The National Building Museum announced it will extend its “Capital Brutalism” exhibition through June 30.
The exhibition explores the history, current state and future of seven iconic Brutalist buildings and the Metro transit system in Washington. Originally scheduled to conclude Feb. 17, it has been extended due to overwhelming public interest.
Co-curated by Angela Person, associate professor of architecture at the University of Oklahoma, and architectural photographer Ty Cole, “Capital Brutalism” has garnered significant media attention:
“CBS Saturday Morning” highlighted how “the city’s much-maligned concrete beacons of Brutalism are getting a fresh look.”
The Wall Street Journal praised the exhibition for helping viewers “see with fresh eyes” architecture that has become commonplace.
The Washington Post described it as a “fascinating, sometimes tongue-in-cheek look” at brutalism’s evolution in Washington.
Bloomberg CityLab highlighted the exhibit’s “provocative solutions for some of the city’s least-understood buildings.”
“We are thrilled to extend ‘Capital Brutalism,'” said Aileen Fuchs, the museum’s president and executive director. “There’s a renewed interest in this controversial architectural style, as evidenced by the award-winning film, ‘The Brutalist.’ Our exhibition provides historical context and challenges visitors to reconsider their perceptions of beauty and equity as we contemplate these buildings’ future.”
The exhibition catalog and Brutalism merchandise are available at the museum’s gift shop and online. On Feb. 6, architect Jeanne Gang, founding partner of Studio Gang, will lead the museum’s Spotlight on Design program on Brutalism. Studio Gang is among several firms featured in the exhibition that created speculative redesigns of Washington’s Brutalist buildings.
The program has applied for two LUs from the American Institute of Architects. Spotlight on Design is presented by The Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation, with additional support from the AIA.