The Paul Rudolph Institute is proud to present Architecture = Art: The Susan Grant Lewin Collection, which will open July 2, 2025 and be on view until September 20. The exhibition is curated by Eshaan Mehta, a rising 4th-year Pratt SoA student in the B.Arch program. He has been on the board of the Paul Rudolph Institute since 2024. At Pratt, Eshaan is the co-President of Pratt Futures. Previously, he has been involved with Landmark Columbus Foundation and Exhibit Columbus in Columbus, Indiana.
This exhibition of approximately 50 architectural presentation drawings by celebrated architects from around the world will occupy two floors of the landmarked Modulightor Building, named for the lighting company Paul Rudolph created with Ernst Wagner in 1976.
The drawings—meticulously drawn by hand or digitally rendered—come from the personal collection of Susan Grant Lewin, a longtime advocate for contemporary architecture and design.
Created as conceptual or presentation works, they reflect drawing as an essential part of the architect’s expressive process—less about documentation, more about persuasion and
imagination. Among the architects represented are: Eileen Grey, Daniel Arsham, Frank Gehry, Jesse Reiser, Hani Rashid, Steven Holl, Aldo Rossi, Michael Graves, James Wines, Stanley Tigerman, John Hejduk, and many others. Their work spans multiple generations and ideologies, yet all share a deep commitment to drawing as both a communicative tool and an artistic medium. The exhibit also showcases a drawing by School of Architecture alum George Ranalli.
“These drawings transcend function,” says Lewin. “They are personal, poetic, and often
provocative. They show how architecture begins with a bold visual idea.”
In addition to the drawings, the exhibition includes a selection of photographs by architectural photographers like Ezra Stoller, Robin Hill, Norman McGrath, Paul Clemence, and others. These images are not merely records of completed buildings but carefully composed works that stand on their own as art. Like the drawings, they express atmosphere, intention, and the emotional experience of architectural space. They underscore the role photography plays in shaping our understanding of the built environment.
Exhibition Details
Dates: July 2, 2025-September 20, 2025
Location: The Paul Rudolph Institute For Modern Architecture, The Modulightor Building, 246 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022.
The exhibition space is elevator accessible.
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday: 1-4 PM, Thursday: 1-7 PM, Friday-Saturday: 1-4 PM; and by appointment other days/times.