Emerging in late 19th-century Europe, the Arts and Crafts movement was a response to the Industrial Revolution’s mass-produced goods and poor labor conditions. Emphasizing craftsmanship, simplicity, and honesty in materials, the movement championed design that clearly expressed a building’s structure and function—free of excessive ornamentation.
In the United States, Frank Lloyd Wright embraced many of these ideals and added his own perspective. He believed the machine could free the artist, allowing materials like wood to reveal their natural beauty without the need for carving or embellishment. Throughout his career, Wright used wood to unify and enrich his designs, from the geometric clarity of the Robie House and Unity Temple to later works including the textile block houses, Fallingwater, and the Usonian homes. His architecture consistently reflected the core values of the Arts and Crafts movement, reinterpreted through his modern lens. In an illustrated presentation, architectural historian Bill Keene explores how Wright’s vision aligned with—and redefined—the Arts and Crafts movement, shaping his legacy and influencing future generations.
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