Julius Shulman. Modernism rediscovered

Julius Shulman´s photography (October 10, 1910 – July 15, 2009) spread California Mid-century modern around the world. Through his many books, exhibits and personal appearances his work ushered in a new appreciation for the movement beginning in the 1990s.

Some of his architectural photographs, like the iconic shots of Frank Lloyd Wright's or Pierre Koenig's remarkable structures, have been published countless times. The brilliance of buildings like those by Charles Eames, as well as those of his close friends, Richard Neutra and Raphael Soriano, was first brought to light by Shulman's photography. The clarity of his work demanded that architectural photography had to be considered as an independent art form. Each Shulman image unites perception and understanding for the buildings and their place in the landscape. The precise compositions reveal not just the architectural ideas behind a building's surface, but also the visions and hopes of an entire age. A sense of humanity is always present in his work, even when the human figure is absent from the actual photographs.

Many of the buildings photographed by Shulman have since been demolished or re-purposed, lending to the popularity of his images.

Pierluigi Serraino, AIA, is an architect, author, and educator. He holds multiple professional and research degrees in architecture from Italy and the United States and has over 15 years of work experience as a design architect. Prior to opening his independent design practice, Pierluigi worked on a variety of residential and institutional projects in the United States and overseas at Mark Mack Architects; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; and Anshen+Allen.

Pierluigi has lectured in museums and institutions of higher learning on postwar American architecture, California modernism, architectural photography, changes in architectural practice, and digital design. Drawing on his in-depth expertise in modern architecture, he has devoted part of his design practice to rehabilitating, remodeling, and adding to mid-century modern residential and commercial properties.

His work and writing have been published in professional and scholarly journals such as Architectural Record, Architecture California, the Journal of Architectural Education, and Architectural Design (UK). He has authored four books, among them Modernism Rediscovered (Taschen 2000) and NorCalMod: Icons of Northern California Modernism (Chronicle Books, 2006), and numerous essays.