At The High Museum in Atlanta, an exhibition delves into the expansive career of sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who, in a 1949 interview, famously stated, “I am not a designer.” Despite this proclamation, over the following four decades, he created some of the most innovative designs of the twentieth century, encompassing architecture, furniture, lighting, stage sets, gardens, playgrounds, and plazas. Even when Noguchi himself or critics acknowledged these design undertakings, they were often viewed as separate from his renowned sculptures.
This exhibition examines Noguchi’s significant engagement with the space-shaping potential of design throughout his career. By approaching his practice through a design framework, the exhibition invites a deeper understanding of the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking. Numerous architects, clients, corporations, fabricators, and other creative professionals played critical roles in almost all the featured projects. The exhibition pays tribute to these individuals, highlighting how they influenced Noguchi’s exploration of design as a tool for creating generous, inclusive spaces—an approach that remains both radical and relevant today.
Organized thematically into three sections, the exhibition connects various concepts, disciplines, scales, and materials. Each section includes models, prototypes, and plans that illuminate the creative process. While not every project was fully realized, each was instrumental in Noguchi’s artistic development. Making Multiples examines Noguchi’s ventures into industrial manufacturing and his experiments with reproducibility. Elements of Architecture traces the evolution of his design thinking and his reimagining of the fundamental principles of architecture. Lastly, Shaping Spaces emphasizes his commitment to utopian world-building and civic function through large-scale outdoor projects.
