Bruce Goff

A major exploration of the work of American architect Bruce Goff, including the paintings, objects, and ephemera often overshadowed by his architectural legacy

 

Celebrated as one of the most innovative and daring architects of the twentieth century, Bruce Goff (1904–1982) imagined a truly independent modern American architecture throughout his six-decade-long career, which began when he was just twelve years old, working as an apprentice at an architectural firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Distinguishing himself from the restrained modernism of the postwar period, Goff created single-family homes that were at once livable and adventurous, featuring radical spatial relationships, and designed fantastical large-scale commercial and industrial spaces.

 

His architectural legacy often overshadows his equally experimental artistic career; this book explores the full sweep of Goff’s creativity, which flowed between media and artistic practices. It highlights 150 objects, including architectural drawings and models; abstract paintings; and photographs, ephemera, and building fragments. Inspired by a range of cultural and artistic traditions, from Native American art to Japanese joinery and the landscapes of science fiction, Goff’s work represents a unique synthesis of diverse influences. In essays on Goff’s connection to the Great Plains, his distinctly queer modernist vision, and his unique genesis of the arts, this book draws critical connections between Goff’s life and work.

 

Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago

 

Exhibition Schedule:

 

Art Institute of Chicago

(December 21, 2025–March 29, 2026)