Category Archives: deconstructionism

I am Justin Shubow

President of the National Civic Art Society, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that promotes the classical and humanistic tradition in public art and architecture. Eleventh Chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency comprising seven presidential appointees who are the aesthetic guardians of Washington.

Interviewed on the Who Versus Podcast

by Justin Shubow Posted on May 31, 2025

On May 29, 2025, I appeared on the Who Versus podcast for a fun and freewheeling discussion about architecture, power, and the values embedded in our public buildings. What began as a discussion of Brutalism and the movie The Brutalist … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, beauty, Brutalism, civic architecture, classical architecture, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, Eisenhower Memorial, Executive Order on federal architecture, FBI building, federal architecture, Frank Gehry, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, Harris Poll, HHS Building, HUD Building, L'Enfant Plan, McMillan Plan, Mies van der Rohe, Modernism, National Civic Art Society, National Mall, Nazis, nihilism, Philip Johnson, President Donald Trump, The Brutalist, uncategorized, Walter Gropius, Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C. Metro | Leave a comment

Interviewed on Liberty Law Talk Podcast

by Justin Shubow Posted on November 20, 2023

Liberty Law Talk, a podcast of Law & Liberty, featured an interview of National Civic Art Society President Justin Shubow in which he talks about the influence of civic architecture on body politic, the role of the U.S. Commission of … Continue reading →

Posted in American Institute of Architects (AIA), Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture, beauty, Brutalism, civic architecture, classicism, courthouses, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, General Services Administration, George Washington, GSA's Design Excellence Program, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, Harris Poll, Jefferson Memorial, Modernism, monuments, National Civic Art Society, sculpture, Thom Mayne, Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, ugliness, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Speaking About Contemporary Federal Architecture on Apr. 28 in NYC

by Justin Shubow Posted on April 9, 2015

On April 28 in New York City I’ll be speaking on “The Architecture of Democracy: How the Federal Government Chooses Architects.” My talk is being sponsored by the National Civic Art Society and First Things magazine, and will take place … Continue reading →

Posted in courthouses, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, federal architecture, public talks, Thomas Phifer and Partners, ugliness | Leave a comment

Speaking in NYC About Federal Architecture on Dec. 17

by Justin Shubow Posted on December 2, 2014

On December 17 at the National Arts Club in New York, I’m going to be speaking about federal architecture. Here’s the description from the club’s bulletin: Justin Shubow: The Architecture of Democracy Wednesday, December 17, 8:00 PM The General Services … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, civic architecture, classicism, courthouses, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, federal architecture, GSA's Design Excellence Program, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, HBRA Architects, Morphosis, National Civic Art Society, Pericles, public talks, Thom Mayne, Thomas Beeby | Leave a comment

Speaking About Architecture and Nihilism at the Michael Oakeshott Association Conference on Sept. 28

by Justin Shubow Posted on September 19, 2013

On Saturday, September 28, 2013, I’ll be giving a talk at the biennial conference of the Michael Oakeshott Association. (Full conference program here.) The theme of the conference, which is being held at Colorado College, is Modernity and Its Discontents. … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, civic architecture, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, Michael Oakeshott, nihilism, political philosophy, vandalism | 2 Comments

Why Congress Should Support a New Eisenhower Memorial

by Justin Shubow Posted on May 8, 2013

On March 19 2013, in front of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation, I testified along with Rep. Darrell Issa on a bill to scrap Gehry’s design for the National Eisenhower Memorial. The New York Times and … Continue reading →

Posted in American Institute of Architects (AIA), civic architecture, congressional testimony, deconstructionism, deconstructivism, Eisenhower Memorial, Fiske Kimball, Frank Gehry, harmony, Henry M. Shrady, Jefferson Memorial, Modernism, monuments, National Civic Art Society, Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial | Tagged , | Leave a comment