Martin Filler
Encyclopedia
Martin Myles Filler is a prominent American architecture critic.
Born in Colorado Springs, CO, Filler received a BA in Art History from Columbia College in 1970 and an MA from Columbia University
's Department of Art History and Archaeology in 1972. He is best known for his long essays on modern architecture that have appeared in The New York Review of Books since 1985, and which served as the basis for his 2007 book Makers of Modern Architecture, published by New York Review Books
. Robert Hughes praised it as "by far the most intelligent and shapely writing on architecture done in recent years," and called Filler the "one regular critic in the American press whose pieces are a guaranteed pleasure to revisit–or to read for the first time."
Filler began his career in 1973 at Columbia University's Teachers College Press. From 1974 to 1977 he was the editor of Architectural Record Books at McGraw-Hill
, where he produced anthologies of writings by Frank Lloyd Wright
and Lewis Mumford
. He began contributing book reviews to Architectural Record
magazine in 1974, and three years later became an associate editor at Progressive Architecture. In 1979 Filler started his long association with Condé Nast Publications
, where he was an editor of House & Garden
until the magazine ceased publication in 2007. From 1990 to 1994 he was also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair
, where he wrote profiles on major figures in the arts including Lucian Freud
, Roy Lichtenstein
, Paul Mellon
, I.M. Pei, Irving Penn
, and Jacob Rothschild.
His writings on architecture, art, and design–more than 1,000 articles to date–have appeared in a broad range of periodicals, newspapers, scholarly journals, and exhibition catalogues in the United States, Europe, and Japan, including some 50 pieces for The New York Times
. During the early 1980s, Art in America
ran his eleven-part series on an emerging generation of avant-garde architects including Frank Gehry
and others yet to achieve widespread recognition. From 1999 to 2003 he was the architecture critic for The New Republic
, and in that latter year was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
Filler's criticism is noted for its clarity, erudition, and outspokenness. In a New York Times Op-Ed Page piece he denounced the Gwathmey Siegel addition to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum
as "the most appalling act of architectural vandalism since the demolition of Pennsylvania Station
". In The New York Review of Books he termed the rebuilding of post-reunification Berlin "a fiasco of immense proportions, the greatest lost opportunity in postwar urbanism," and characterized the bird-like structures of the Spanish architect-engineer Santiago Calatrava
as "kitsch."
Known for his expertise in modern design, Filler served as a guest curator for the Whitney Museum of Art's exhibition High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design (1984) and the Brooklyn Museum
's exhibition Vital Forms: American Art and Design in the Atomic Age, 1940-1960 (2001). In 1978 he married the architectural historian Rosemarie Haag Bletter, with whom he collaborated on the Whitney show. Together they wrote and conducted interviews for three documentary films by Michael Blackwood: Beyond Utopia: Changing Attitudes in American Architecture (1983), Arata Isozaki (1985), and James Stirling (1987).
Born in Colorado Springs, CO, Filler received a BA in Art History from Columbia College in 1970 and an MA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Department of Art History and Archaeology in 1972. He is best known for his long essays on modern architecture that have appeared in The New York Review of Books since 1985, and which served as the basis for his 2007 book Makers of Modern Architecture, published by New York Review Books
New York Review Books
New York Review Books is the publishing house of The New York Review of Books. Its imprints are New York Review Books Classics, New York Review Books Collections, and The New York Review Children's Collection....
. Robert Hughes praised it as "by far the most intelligent and shapely writing on architecture done in recent years," and called Filler the "one regular critic in the American press whose pieces are a guaranteed pleasure to revisit–or to read for the first time."
Filler began his career in 1973 at Columbia University's Teachers College Press. From 1974 to 1977 he was the editor of Architectural Record Books at McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
, where he produced anthologies of writings by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
and Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford
Lewis Mumford was an American historian, philosopher of technology, and influential literary critic. Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture, he had a broad career as a writer...
. He began contributing book reviews to Architectural Record
Architectural Record
Architectural Record is an American monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design, published by McGraw-Hill Construction in New York City. It is over 110 years old...
magazine in 1974, and three years later became an associate editor at Progressive Architecture. In 1979 Filler started his long association with Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
, where he was an editor of House & Garden
House & Garden (magazine)
House & Garden was an American shelter magazine published by Condé Nast Publications that focused on interior design, entertaining, and gardening....
until the magazine ceased publication in 2007. From 1990 to 1994 he was also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, where he wrote profiles on major figures in the arts including Lucian Freud
Lucian Freud
Lucian Michael Freud, OM, CH was a British painter. Known chiefly for his thickly impasted portrait and figure paintings, he was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of his time...
, Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein was a prominent American pop artist. During the 1960s his paintings were exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City and along with Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist and others he became a leading figure in the new art movement...
, Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, I.M. Pei, Irving Penn
Irving Penn
Irving Penn was an American photographer known for his portraiture and fashion photography.-Early career:Irving Penn studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art from which he was graduated in 1938. Penn's drawings were published by Harper's Bazaar and he...
, and Jacob Rothschild.
His writings on architecture, art, and design–more than 1,000 articles to date–have appeared in a broad range of periodicals, newspapers, scholarly journals, and exhibition catalogues in the United States, Europe, and Japan, including some 50 pieces for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. During the early 1980s, Art in America
Art in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
ran his eleven-part series on an emerging generation of avant-garde architects including Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
and others yet to achieve widespread recognition. From 1999 to 2003 he was the architecture critic for The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, and in that latter year was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
.
Filler's criticism is noted for its clarity, erudition, and outspokenness. In a New York Times Op-Ed Page piece he denounced the Gwathmey Siegel addition to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a well-known museum located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. It is the permanent home to a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art and also features special exhibitions...
as "the most appalling act of architectural vandalism since the demolition of Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station is a label first applied by the Pennsylvania Railroad to several of its grand passenger terminals.-New York City:...
". In The New York Review of Books he termed the rebuilding of post-reunification Berlin "a fiasco of immense proportions, the greatest lost opportunity in postwar urbanism," and characterized the bird-like structures of the Spanish architect-engineer Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
as "kitsch."
Known for his expertise in modern design, Filler served as a guest curator for the Whitney Museum of Art's exhibition High Styles: Twentieth Century American Design (1984) and the Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
's exhibition Vital Forms: American Art and Design in the Atomic Age, 1940-1960 (2001). In 1978 he married the architectural historian Rosemarie Haag Bletter, with whom he collaborated on the Whitney show. Together they wrote and conducted interviews for three documentary films by Michael Blackwood: Beyond Utopia: Changing Attitudes in American Architecture (1983), Arata Isozaki (1985), and James Stirling (1987).
External links
- Filler author page and archive from The New York Review of Books