Richard Kelly (lighting designer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Kelly was an American
lighting designer
and considered one of the pioneers of architectural lighting design. Kelly had already established his own New York
-based lighting practice in 1935 before enrolling at the Yale School of Architecture
where he graduated in 1944. Kelly characterized the difficulty in selling lighting consultancy, then a new discipline, when he reflected "There weren't lighting consultants then. Nobody would pay for my ideas, but they would buy fixtures."
By the 1950s, his work in lighting design led him to coin the terms 'focal glow', 'ambient luminescence' and 'play of brilliants' to describe particular effects in lighting design. His later career also saw him lecture at, among others, Yale
, Princeton
, and Harvard
Universities.
After his death, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
established the Richard Kelly Grant in his name to encourage creativity in lighting among young people.
, Philip Johnson
, Eero Saarinen
, and Louis Kahn
. Such lighting projects include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lighting designer
Lighting designer
The role of the lighting designer within theatre is to work with the director, choreographer, set designer, costume designer, and sound designer to create an overall 'look' for the show in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety and cost...
and considered one of the pioneers of architectural lighting design. Kelly had already established his own New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based lighting practice in 1935 before enrolling at the Yale School of Architecture
Yale School of Architecture
The Yale School of Architecture is one of the constituent professional schools of Yale University. It is generally considered to be one of the most prestigious architecture schools in the world.- History :...
where he graduated in 1944. Kelly characterized the difficulty in selling lighting consultancy, then a new discipline, when he reflected "There weren't lighting consultants then. Nobody would pay for my ideas, but they would buy fixtures."
By the 1950s, his work in lighting design led him to coin the terms 'focal glow', 'ambient luminescence' and 'play of brilliants' to describe particular effects in lighting design. His later career also saw him lecture at, among others, Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Universities.
After his death, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is a non-profit learned society that was founded in New York City on January 10, 1906. The IES's stated mission is to improve the lighted environment by bringing together those with lighting knowledge and by translating that knowledge into...
established the Richard Kelly Grant in his name to encourage creativity in lighting among young people.
Notable projects
Richard Kelly's most notable projects saw him collaborate with architects including Mies van der RoheLudwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect. He is commonly referred to and addressed as Mies, his surname....
, Philip Johnson
Philip Johnson
Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
, Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer of the 20th century famous for varying his style according to the demands of the project: simple, sweeping, arching structural curves or machine-like rationalism.-Biography:Eero Saarinen shared the same birthday as his father,...
, and Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
. Such lighting projects include:
- David H. Koch Theater (then the New York State Theater).
- Glass HouseGlass HouseThe Glass House or Johnson house, built in 1949 in New Canaan, Connecticut, was designed by Philip Johnson as his own residence and is a masterpiece in the use of glass. It was an important and influential project for Johnson and for modern architecture. The building is an essay in minimal...
. - Kimbell Art MuseumKimbell Art MuseumThe Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, hosts a small but excellent art collection as well as traveling art exhibitions, educational programs and an extensive research library. Its initial artwork came from the private collection of Kay and Velma Kimbell, who also provided funds for a new...
. - Seagram BuildingSeagram BuildingThe Seagram Building is a skyscraper, located at 375 Park Avenue, between 52nd Street and 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, in collaboration with Philip Johnson. Severud Associates were the structural engineering consultants. The building...
.