Architecture of Authority: Photographs by Richard Ross

April 18, 2009 - August 16, 2009

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Prisons. Courtrooms. The Department of Motor Vehicles waiting rooms. Telephone booths. Preschool classrooms. What do these places have in common?

According to Richard Ross, they all embody "asymmetrical architecture" – spaces that exert power over individuals. Architecture of Authority: Photographs by Richard Ross features 44 of Ross's large-format color photographs that capture the essence, and even the beauty, of these "powerful" spaces in sometimes surprising ways.

The photographs included in this exhibition showcase the architectural traits and design features that create a feeling of authority in a variety of buildings. The juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated building types in Ross's photographs challenge the viewer's assumptions about power and architecture. They encourage us to confront the jarring notion that the spatial features of our everyday lives might have something in common with sites of surveillance, repression, and control.

Richard Ross teaches at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was the official photographer documenting the restoration of the J. Paul Getty Museum and has an extensive exhibition record in the United States and Europe. His work has been published in major magazines and newspapers.

Have you ever thought about the powerful spaces that you encounter in your daily life? Consider how the size of spaces, lighting, and materials may restrict movement, sight, or communication. If you are inspired to find, interpret, and share your own ideas about the architecture of authority, we encourage you to submit your photographs to our Architecture of Authority Flickr page.

Architecture of Authority was organized by Aperture, New York.  

The National Building Museum’s 2009 photography exhibitions are supported by the Director’s Exhibition Fund with additional support from Reed Construction Data, anonymous donors, Michael Kochis, Maxwell MacKenzie, and Art and Nancy Saltford.