Paulína Horváthová: New World for Byzantium: Fran Lloyd Wright and Architecture of Modernism in the USA

We warmly invite you to the final lecture of the StředověC JinaX series for this semester, presented by Paulína Horváthová. Join us on May 15 at 7:00 PM to hear the often-overlooked story of the role played by Byzantium and immigrants in shaping modernist sacred architecture in the USA. As usual, we will meet in the Hans Belting Library on the ground floor of the K and L buildings at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.

Neo-Byzantine art played a key role in the broader revival of "neo-styles" in the context of 19th- and 20th-century European art, during a time when newly formed states and empires were reconnecting with their history and cultural heritage. In contrast, the United States did not experience a significant revival of interest in Byzantine culture and art during the 19th century. Interest in Byzantium in the U.S. remained a marginal activity, mainly driven by individuals and positioned between the worlds of the Orient, the West, and Christianity. Among the key actors promoting this visual culture were immigrants—especially Greek immigrant communities—who primarily manifested their efforts through architecture.

One of the main case studies of the lecture will be the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, located on the outskirts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Through this final realized design by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Paulína will introduce us to the phenomenon of “copying” Hagia Sophia in the USA—a phenomenon that always took on a unique character and reflected the aspirations and financial means of individual Greek communities.

You will also be able to watch the entire lecture online on our YouTube channel. 

The lecture is part of the Contexts of Humanity project by energeia o.p.s.