Archinect - News

I.M. Pei's collection of art will go out to auction starting September

2019-08-30T07:00:00-04:00

Not only did they care deeply for the works, but in many cases they cared deeply for the artists themselves, like Jean Dubuffet and Barnett Newman. Both Eileen and I.M. Pei had incredibly creative minds and, unsurprisingly, they surrounded themselves with friends of equal talent and intellect.

I.M. Pei, and his wife, Eileen's collection of art will go to auction at Christie's starting in Paris in September, followed by Hong Kong and Los Angeles in October, and then New York in November. The auctions will feature artwork by Barnett Newman, Zao Wou-ki, Jean Dubuffet, Henry Moore, and many others, reports Architectural Digest.

Many of the artists were friends with the Peis and the work is sure to provide an intimate look into the life of the couple, writes AD's Nick Mafi.

Architects, writers, museums, and a Prime Minister remember the life and work of I.M. Pei, 1917–2019

2019-05-17T15:39:00-04:00

It is a rare moment when the words "architect" and "architecture" appear in the elusive list of trending Twitter topics, but yesterday's sighting followed a sad occasion: architect I.M. Pei, the revered master of modernist architecture, had died on Thursday at the proud age of 102.

Architecture critic and writer Paul Goldberger was the first to share the news—triggering a prompt outpouring of sympathy and memories from the architecture community and beyond.

Some sad news: I’ve just learned that I.M. Pei died last night, at 102. The end of an architectural era, truly. A sad moment, but a career—and a life—worthy of celebration.
— Paul Goldberger (@paulgoldberger) May 16, 2019

Michael Kimmelman, the current NYT architecture critic, shared his personal experience with Pei's architecture, writing "Like others, I deeply admire Pei's beautiful and thoughtful Islamic museum in Qatar, respect the sculptural power of the East Building in D.C. and the Pyramid in Paris, among obvious landmarks...

I.M. Pei dies at 102

2019-05-16T18:13:00-04:00

Ieoh Ming Pei, among the most well-known names in architecture, passed away overnight at the age of 102.

Le Grand Louvre, Paris, France, 1989

It was first announced online by Paul Goldberger, in this heartfelt tweet:

When considering the number of projects completed under his name over the course of a career spanning more than seven decades, it is difficult to say for which of Pei's buildings he is best known. In the Western world, it might be his controversial addition to the Louvre, completed in 1989; in the Eastern world, it might be the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, completed in 1990. His distinct use of geometry and unique ability to respond to program made Pei a household name along with those of Hadid, Gehry and Wright.

Bank of China Tower, Hong Ko...

I.M. Pei's National Gallery of Art building set to reopen this week in Washington

2016-09-26T17:17:00-04:00

From the outside, not much has changed. After a three-year, $69m renovation, the East Building of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, looks about the same as it did when it first opened in June 1978. [...] Step inside and the differences become clear. The gallery, which reopens to the public on 30 September, has managed to carve out more than 12,250 sq. ft of additional exhibition space without expanding its physical footprint.

↑ I.M. Pei, who designed the East Building, on the structure's original opening day, June 1, 1978. Photo © Dennis Brack/Black Star. National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gallery Archives

Artist JR covers the I.M. Pei's Pyramid in giant image of the Louvre

2016-05-24T13:28:00-04:00

Whether it be the Middle East, the favelas of Rio, slums of Kenya, New York, Le Havre or Shanghai, JR’s works leave no one indifferent, because they return our gaze and cut to the very heart of our innermost selves. [...] Invited by the “biggest museum in the world”—which also generates the most selfies—JR has set his sights on one of the Louvre’s symbols, the Pyramid, which he intends to transform with a surprising anamorphic image.

The artist JR, best known for his series of giant portraits wheat-pasted in cities around the world, has been commissioned to create a piece for the Louvre. Documenting the progress on his Instagram account, JR has been covering I.M. Pei's iconic glass Pyramid with an anamorphic image of the edifice behind it: the Sully Wing of the Louvre.

"I will never forget this day. Today I'm going to make the Louvre Pyramid disappear," JR told the Humans of Paris Facebook account. "I want to make the Louvre Pyramid disappear because I want people to see themselves alone, just their head and the Louvre.

"I find it funny seeing people taking selfies all day in front of the pyramid but always with their back to the Louvre," he continues. "It says a lot about our society where people turn their back on things and focus on themselves."

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