Philosopher. Forecaster. Designer. Poet. Inventor. Advocate of alternative energy.
R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was one of the greatest American thinkers of the 20th century -- and a visionary for the 21st.
Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe is the first major US exhibition of Fuller's work in
35 years and a testament to his fascinating mix of utopian vision and organic pragmatism.
A combination of models, sketches, and other artifacts -- many on view for the first time --
represent six decades of the artist's integrated approach to housing, transportation, communication, and cartography.
A man of remarkable prescience, Fuller's credo was "more for less," and by the late 1920s he recognized the need for
environmentally sound design that would benefit the largest segment of society while using the fewest resources --
a decidedly contemporary concern. Believing in the interconnectedness of all things, Fuller's ambition in life was
to close the gap between the sciences and humanities for the genuine good of humankind. His work has extensively
influenced the artists, designers, architects, engineers, environmentalists, and mathematicians of today.
Fuller's designs reflect his enthusiasm for technology as well as his faith in "how nature builds."
He is perhaps best known for his 1949 design of the geodesic dome, one of the strongest, most economic structures
ever devised. In addition to several geodesic study models, the MCA's presentation features numerous models of Fuller's
projects, including his Dymaxion designs and dome structures, as well as the Tetrascroll portfolio. Fuller's extensive
connections with Chicago are also highlighted through photographs and documents from his years spent living,
teaching, and working in the city. The MCA invites you to plumb the mind of this self-proclaimed
"comprehensive anticipatory design scientist."
This exhibition is organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in association with the Department of Special
Collections of the Stanford University Libraries.
From left to right: Buckminster Fuller, his daughter Allegra Fuller Snyder,
and his wife Anne Fuller. July, 1928.
Buckminster Fuller and students with the first model of Fuller's Geodesic Dome, 1948,
made at the Institute of Design, Chicago. Courtesy the Estate of R. Buckminster Fuller.
Buckminster Fuller with models of Standard of Living Package and Skybreak Dome, 1949.
Image courtesy the Estate of R. Buckminster Fuller.
