International architecture firm, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) will be presenting a selection of Chairman and Founder A. Eugene Kohn’s watercolors at The Galleries at 153 East 53rd Street in New York City this summer. Opening on Monday, July 2nd and on view through the end of August, the exhibition will feature highlights of Kohn’s work from the 1950’s through today.
Kohn paints primarily in watercolor with a range of subjects – cityscapes, landscapes, still life and abstract. Much of his work is done when he travels in foreign countries, and he frequently gives them as gifts or donates them to charity auctions. His watercolors have previously been displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in a show for the works of well-known architects, as well as an exhibition in Hong Kong last year, and are shown at Belgravia Gallery in London. Kohn’s fascination with painting began when he was a young boy sitting by his mother’s side while she painted. Hannah Kohn was an accomplished painter in her own right, and also had a show at the Guggenheim Museum on the occasion of her 100th birthday.
According to Kohn, “It’s not about being an artist – painting is something that I delight in and do purely for the joy of it. I paint to relax and to express strong feelings about certain subjects. A building can take five to ten years to complete, while a watercolor can be done in a few hours.”
Gallery owner Meredith Ward adds, "Gene Kohn’s watercolors have an elegant simplicity. He uses the unique qualities of the medium to greatest advantage by approaching his subjects with a minimum of means. A few quick strokes convey the energy of a bustling cityscape; a broad wash of color suggests the vastness of sea and sky."
The opening of the exhibition coincides with the firm’s 36th anniversary. KPF was founded by Kohn, William Pedersen, and Sheldon Fox in New York on July 4th, 1976. With over 550 employees, the firm is headquartered in the historic 11 West 42nd Street building, overlooking Bryant Park and the New York Public Library. +
Related Stories
Architects | Mar 8, 2024
98 architects elevated to AIA's College of Fellows in 2024
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is elevating 96 member-architects and 2 non-member-architects to its College of Fellows, an honor awarded to architects who have made significant contributions to the profession. The fellowship program was developed to elevate architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 7, 2024
Bjarke Ingels’ design for the Oakland A’s new Las Vegas ballpark resembles ‘a spherical armadillo’
Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in collaboration with HNTB, the new ballpark for the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team will be located on the Las Vegas Strip and offer panoramic views of the city skyline. The 33,000-capacity covered, climate-controlled stadium will sit on nine acres on Las Vegas Boulevard.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 7, 2024
3 key considerations when converting a warehouse to a laboratory
Does your warehouse facility fit the profile for a successful laboratory conversion that can demand higher rents and lower vacancy rates? Here are three important considerations to factor before proceeding.
Shopping Centers | Mar 7, 2024
How shopping centers can foster strong community connections
In today's retail landscape, shopping centers are evolving beyond mere shopping destinations to become vibrant hubs of community life. Here are three strategies from Nadel Architecture + Planning for creating strong local connections.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2024
Nonresidential construction spending slips 0.4% in January
National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.190 trillion.
MFPRO+ Special Reports | Mar 6, 2024
Top 10 trends in senior living facilities for 2024
The 65-and-over population is growing faster than any other age group. Architects, engineers, and contractors are coming up with creative senior housing solutions to better serve this burgeoning cohort.
Architects | Mar 5, 2024
Riken Yamamoto wins 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize announces Riken Yamamoto, of Yokohama, Japan, as the 2024 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the award that is regarded internationally as architecture’s highest honor.
Office Buildings | Mar 5, 2024
Former McDonald’s headquarters transformed into modern office building for Ace Hardware
In Oak Brook, Ill., about 15 miles west of downtown Chicago, McDonald’s former corporate headquarters has been transformed into a modern office building for its new tenant, Ace Hardware. Now for the first time, Ace Hardware can bring 1,700 employees from three facilities under one roof.
Green | Mar 5, 2024
New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan aims for building decarbonization
New York City’s recently revealed Green Economy Action Plan includes the goals of the decarbonization of buildings and developing a renewable energy system. The ambitious plan includes enabling low-carbon alternatives in the transportation sector and boosting green industries, aiming to create more than 12,000 green economy apprenticeships by 2040.
Lighting | Mar 4, 2024
Illuminating your path to energy efficiency
Design Collaborative's Kelsey Rowe, PE, CLD, shares some tools, resources, and next steps to guide you through the process of lighting design.
