Following the allegations of sexual harassment by Richard Meier reported in The New York Times yesterday, the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning declined Meier's new gift to name the chair of the Department of Architecture, and has cancelled the event planned next week to celebrate the gift.
“As one of our most well-known alumni, Richard Meier has been associated with Cornell University and the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning through his gifts that support students and faculty. Although he has apologized, the reported behavior is unacceptable,” Cornell AAP Dean Kent Kleinman said in a statement yesterday. “We will swiftly explore what additional actions are appropriate with regard to endowments for professorships and scholarships previously donated to Cornell.”
Additionally, Sotheby's Auction House promptly closed a solo exhibition of Meier's work at its S2 Gallery in New York that was supposed to run through March 29, ARTnews first reported. Sotheby's also removed the online page detailing the exhibited works from their website. “Under the circumstances, and in consultation with the Meier family, the decision has been made to close our exhibition early,” Sotheby's stated.
On the other hand, the Pritzker Prize said to The New York Times that Meier's 1984 Pritzker Prize will still stand, “given that it was ‘based on his architectural merit at that time [...] We do not comment on the personal lives of our laureates,’ the statement added, ‘but do consider all sexual allegations to be serious, as abusive behavior towards any individual is unacceptable.’”
8 Comments
Gee. I wonder what organization is missing? Another weak tea response from AIA.
Meier didn't need to be an asshole to discredit the Pritzker. He had already accomplished that with High Museum of Art.
Featuring the Tip of the Iceberg, Richard Meier, FAIA
I was expecting that the first big name architect to be accused would have lots of penis shaped buildings like Foster...
Guys who do penis shaped building play for the other team.
And people playing for the other team can't be harassed?
Don't tell Kevin Spacey.
Oh look! Richard Meier is hiring!
Too soon?
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