Architect Michael Graves gets the spotlight in a new National Building Museum event

From multi-colored schools to whistling bird teakettles, Michael Graves designed pretty much anything and everything, creating a prolific body of work that totaled over 350 buildings and over 2,000 products. This architect has been described as ”one of the most renowned and most polarizing architects” by the Washington Post with notable works like the St. Coletta of Greater Washington and the glowing scaffolding of the Washington Monument in 1999.

With the hope to start a dialogue on one of the most prominent designers and architects in the last half-century, journalist Ian Volner will share stories about Graves’ career in a new event at the National Building Museum.

Volner is the author of a biography on Graves, titled, “Michael Graves: Design for Life.” This publication plays off of numerous interviews Volner had with the architect, his family, patrons, colleagues, and friends.

The event will be hosted on Tuesday, January 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ticket prices total $20 for non-members, $12 for members, and $10 for students. Go to the National Building Museum website to pre-register.

• Spotlight on design: Michael Graves: Design for life [National Building Museum]

• Mapping Architect Michael Graves’ Designs in Washington, D.C. [Curbed DC]