The WSU Museum of Art’s exhibition “Art for Architecture” opened September 29th with an opening reception and lecture by one of the Northwest’s most significant architects, Jim Olson.

Art for Architecture is a must see exhibit serving as a retrospective of Jim Olson’s career highlighting many of his works.

Jim Olson is known for his unique style—modern and sophisticated—which brings architecture, art and a whole lot of nature together in one setting.

Olson’s main focus is creating homes for major art collectors by designing the home around the pieces in their collection.

This exhibit is filled to the brim with Olson’s captivating work from panels on the walls displaying photos of his architecture to small scale versions of his work and even to a lonesome chair surrounded by walls with the view from his porch.

One of the many fans of the exhibit, sophomore chemistry major Jessica Petersen, expressed her enjoyment of the exhibition. The Pavillion House is her favorite, Petersen said.

“I like that it’s open with big windows that really bring nature indoors,” she said. 

Her depiction of this particular piece is seen throughout a lot of Olson’s work.

WSU Museum of Art curator Keith Wells said there were a lot of unexpected surprises in the show. He said he felt like more of a museum goer than the curator.

“There is this notion that if you bring together things you have collected and things that inspire you that you can come up with a sort of refuge from the world, a place that you want to be,” Wells said. “This show grew from that idea. There was one architect that was really rising about the rest and performing this kind of feat — who was building a home based on the artwork that was collected previously.”

Wells encouraged students to check out the event.

“You have got to get out of the classroom,” said Wells. “You have got to go to the place where you can see things in person because you only get a little fragment if you are just looking at a picture.”

Ayad Rahmani, an architecture professor, was pleased to see the exhibit at WSU.

“If I have a wish, it is that I would have liked to see even more of these lovely artifacts,” Rahmani said. “They really drive the message home that art is about how we live and not just limited to paintings on a wall.”

Jim Olson’s work will be displayed at the museum through December 10.