Modern Forms

How “modern” is modernist architecture? And what has happened to the style’s foundational utopian ideals? Nicolas Grospierre’s masterful photographic survey catalogues both famous and little-known buildings, challenging the viewer to consider modernist architecture’s complicated legacy. Drawn from Grospierre’s ever-expanding archive documenting his travels, these large-format photographs of almost 250 buildings are arranged purely by their shapes, prioritizing form over function and location to give a unique perspective of global structures. Uniform in perspective, and presented without comment, Grospierre’s photographs allow viewers to discover details and colors that a more narrative-focused presentation would prohibit. The work of nearly a quarter of a century, this ever-expanding collection reflects a labor of love, a photographer’s deep obsession, and a celebration of buildings both iconic and mundane all over the world.