Spheres of Influence

Philip Johnson was probably the greatest architectural force of our time, with a career that spanned more than eight decades. His influence began in the 1920s, when he impacted the culture as a writer and historian, and developed further after he became a practicing architect in the 1940s. He continued that work until 2004, about a year before his death this past January, at the age of 98. Not just a tastemaker whose structures helped define the course of American architecture, Johnson was also an ardent supporter of emerging talent, including Peter Eisenman, Michael Graves, and Frank Gehry. Here we offer a depiction of his curatorial vision and stylistic influences, as well as his intriguing network of design collaborators and protégés.