Category Archives: federal architecture

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.

Endorsed for Chairman of the NEA by Ben Shapiro on His Show

On February 5, 2025, I discussed my vision for serving as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, together with how Trump is beautifying civic architecture, on the Ben Shapiro Show. I explained, “My vision comes from Dana Gioia, … Continue reading

Posted in Executive Order on federal architecture, federal architecture, memorandum on federal architecture, National Endowment for the Arts, President Donald Trump | Leave a comment

My Article for City Journal: Trump Will Beautify Civic Architecture

On January 31, 2025, I published an article for City Journal, a publication of the Manhattan Institute, titled “Trump Is Right: America’s New Buildings Are Ugly.” To quote: President Donald Trump has made it clear that the aesthetics of government … Continue reading

Posted in Executive Order on federal architecture, FBI building, federal architecture, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, memorandum on federal architecture, National Civic Art Society, National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Station, President Donald Trump, Rebuild Penn Station, uncategorized, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Interviewed at Length by Dezeen

Writing for Dezeen, the publication’s editor Tom Ravenscroft interviewed me at length in a January 29, 2025 piece on Trump’s directives re federal architecture: [Shubow] described architects’ responses as “hysterical” and claimed that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is … Continue reading

Posted in American Institute of Architects (AIA), classical architecture, federal architecture, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, National Endowment for the Arts, President Donald Trump | Leave a comment

Endorsed for Chairman of the NEA by Andrew Klavan on His Show

In an episode titled “This Federal Agency Could Make Art in America Again,” I discussed the future of the National Endowment for the Arts on novelist and commentator Andrew Klavan’s show. He kindly said to me, “I have to say … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Klavan, federal architecture, Martin Luther King Memorial, National Endowment for the Arts, National World War I Memorial | Leave a comment

Interviewed on CBS Saturday Morning About the Future of Brutalism

What should we do with the blight of Brutalist buildings, especially in Washington, D.C.? On January 18, 2025, CBS Saturday Morning aired a segment on the subject, interviewing me. The host conceded that the majority of people dislike the buildings … Continue reading

Posted in CBS Saturday Morning, federal architecture, historic preservation, President Donald Trump, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Interviewed on The Untold Story with Martha MacCallum (Fox News Radio)

On December 27, 2024, I was honored to appear on The Untold Story with Martha MacCallum (Fox News Radio). Broaching the subject of presidential appointments, MacCallum noted, “I know you’re being considered to head the National Endowment for the Arts … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, architecture of humanism, classical architecture, federal architecture, First Lady Melania Trump, Fox News, historic preservation, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lady Bird Johnson, Martha MacCallum, National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Station, Rebuild Penn Station, uncategorized | Leave a comment

Endorsed for Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts by Victor Davis Hanson on His Podcast

In December 2024, I was interviewed about public architecture, monuments, and the future of the National Endowment for the Arts on the podcast of esteemed historian Victor Davis Hanson, recipient of the National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush. Jack Fowler co-hosted. … Continue reading

Posted in art, beauty, civic architecture, classical architecture, Eisenhower Memorial, federal architecture, Frank Gehry, National Endowment for the Arts, National World War I Memorial, poetry, President Donald Trump, uncategorized, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial, Victor Davis Hanson | Leave a comment

How Classical Architecture Can Unite Americans in an Otherwise Divided Time

Can classical architecture unite Americans in an otherwise divided time? I said “yes” in a lecture earlier this year. I explored how timeless design rooted in ancient precedents–and employed by the Founding Fathers–bolsters democracy, unity, and civic identity. The talk was … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, classical architecture, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, Guiding Principles of Federal Architecture, public talks, Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation | Leave a comment

Interviewed on the DC EKG Podcast

Joe Grogan, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council in the Trump administration, interviewed me on the DC EKG podcast. I spoke at length about the magnificent new classical National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. I also … Continue reading

Posted in Brutalism, civic architecture, classical architecture, Eisenhower Memorial, federal architecture, Frank Gehry, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, General Services Administration, Jefferson Memorial, Joe Grogan, L'Enfant Plan, Martin Luther King Memorial, McMillan Plan, Modernism, monuments, National Civic Art Society, National Mall, National World War I Memorial, public talks, sculpture, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment

Intercollegiate Studies Institute Interview of Me

I was glad to sit down with Johnny Burtka, president and CEO of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), for an interview about my work at the National Civic Art Society. I discussed how beauty, art, and architecture shape a flourishing … Continue reading

Posted in Americans' Preferred Architecture for Federal Buildings, civic architecture, classical architecture, democracy, federal architecture, federal architecture legislation, Modernism, monuments, National World War I Memorial, public talks, Thomas Jefferson, United Airlines Flight 93 Memorial, Washington, D.C. | Leave a comment