This past July, during the preview night before our Summer Modern & Contemporary Auction, we asked George Smart of NCModernist to share the story behind how North Carolina came to have such a signifiant concentration of Modernist design. Smart emphasized the importance of the architecture program at North Carolina State University. Beginning in 1946 as the School of Architecture and Landscape Design, this post-war influenced design program helped establish North Carolina’s Modernist architectural movement by incorporating a groundbreaking curriculum, employing prominent architects such as George Matsumoto, James Fitzgibbons, Matthew Nowicki, Eduardo Catalano, and Edward Waugh to serve as faculty, and by initiating a guest lecture program that brought internationally acclaimed architects to campus as visiting professors – such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Founding Dean, Henry Kamphoefner, envisioned a program that would prepare students, and North Carolina, for the post-war world though Modernist architecture. Today, NCModernist’s mission is to help preserve Modernist homes and elevate public awareness about the importance of preserving this legacy of exceptional design.

Designed by Richard Gurlitz of Gurlitz Architectural Group, our gallery at Leland Little celebrates the tenets of Modernist design – open floor plans, innovative materials, and a strong connection to the outdoors. We are so grateful to build community through auctions and events in this inspiring space. We invite you to join us for our Modern & Contemporary Preview Night on Wednesday, October 15th from 6-8 PM and preview our current Modern & Contemporary Auction. This auction will open for live-online bidding on Thursday, October 16th at 10:00 am. Pre-bidding is available now.

Modern & Contemporary Auction
October 16th at 10:00 am ET