Beatriz Colomina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beatriz Colomina
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Beatriz Colomina at GSAPP
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| Born | 1952 (age 72–73) |
| Nationality | American, Spanish |
| Known for | Art history, Architectural history, Architectural theory |
Beatriz Colomina (born 1952) is a Spanish-American architecture historian, theorist, and curator. She is known for her work on how media and modern life influence architecture. She is a professor at Princeton University, where she leads a program about media and modernity.
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Early Life and Studies
Beatriz Colomina grew up in Valencia, Spain. She started studying architecture at the Technical University of Valencia. Later, she moved to Barcelona to finish her education at the Escola Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona. There, she became very interested in history, theory, and city planning.
Even as a student, she began working for the history department. She helped translate important writings about architecture from Italian into Spanish. After she graduated, she was hired by the Urbanism Department. In 1981, she moved to the USA to join a special program in New York City. Meeting people like Susan Sontag there greatly influenced her future work.
Career Highlights
Colomina has had a busy career in teaching, writing, and organizing exhibitions.
Teaching Architecture
Beatriz Colomina started teaching architecture when she was just 23 years old in Barcelona. After her time in New York, she continued teaching at Columbia University in 1982. In 1988, she moved to Princeton University, where she still teaches today.
She has given many lectures at famous places around the world. These include the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum, and universities like Harvard and Yale. She also helps guide several important institutions. In 2020, she received the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for her contributions.
Awards and Fellowships
Beatriz Colomina has received several awards and special grants for her work:
- 2020 Ada Louise Huxtable Prize
- 2007 Canadian Centre for Architecture Mellon Fellowship
- 2005 Princeton University President's Award for Distinguished Teaching
- 1995-1996 Samuel H. Kress Senior Fellowship
- 1987 Graham Foundation Grant
Writing and Publications
Colomina has written many books and articles about architecture. Her work often explores how things like printed media, photography, advertising, and television have shaped modern buildings and design.
Some of her books include:
- The Sex of Architecture (1996)
- Domesticity at War (2007)
- Cold War Hothouses (2004)
She has also written many articles and was on the editorial boards of important architectural magazines like Assemblage and Grey Room.
Exhibitions and Curation
Beatriz Colomina has also organized many international exhibitions, often working with her students.
Clip/Stamp/Fold (2006)
This exhibition explored the connection between architecture and media. It showed how small, independent magazines from the 1960s and 70s influenced architectural ideas. It first opened in New York in 2006. Since then, it has traveled to places like Montreal, London, and Santiago, Chile.
Radical Pedagogies (2014)
This exhibition looked at how architectural education changed after World War II. It showed how new teaching methods were linked to big social changes at the time. It was first shown at the Venice Biennale in 2014 and has been displayed in other locations too.
Other Curatorial Work
Colomina was the main curator for Curated by Vienna: The Century of the Bed in 2014. She also helped organize the third Istanbul Design Biennial in 2016, which explored the theme "Are We Human? The Design of the Species." In 2017, she created an installation for the first Architecture and Urbanism Biennale in Seoul.
Personal Life
Beatriz Colomina is married to Mark Wigley. He is also an architect and author from New Zealand. They have worked together on several projects.
