High Museum hosts Emory’s Art History students

This February, students from Emory’s “Paper Architecture” class, led by Assistant Professor André Patrão, stepped beyond the classroom and into the inspiring spaces of the High Museum of Art. The visit marked an exciting moment in Emory’s new Academic Affiliate Program, bringing academic theory to life through direct engagement with one of Atlanta’s premier cultural institutions.

Through close collaboration with Frances Francis, Associate Director of Collections Management at the High, a hands-on experience was curated for students that blended historical exploration with creative discovery. Students gained behind-the-scenes access to rare archival materials from renowned architect Renzo Piano, who designed the High's 2005 expansion, and had the special opportunity to speak with the High Museum of Art’s Director Rand Suffolk.

“Paper architecture,” explains Patrão, “is design that is unlikely or even impossible to build, and it plays an important role that built designs cannot. Paper architecture projects are free experiments, speculations, statements, illustrations, and critiques in the form of imaginary spaces. They explore different dimensions of the built environment, from cultural and socio-political to technological and ecological. They create unreal worlds that challenge the limits of what ours can become.”

The museum’s resources offered a perfect lens through which to explore these concepts, allowing students to examine how imagined architecture can spark real-world reflection on culture, politics, technology, and the environment.

The visit was a vivid example of what’s possible when academic curiosity meets curatorial expertise. This collaboration is just the beginning of a powerful partnership between Emory University and the High Museum—and certainly one our Emory students won’t soon forget.