Michelle R. LaFoe
Architect & Artist

Michelle LaFoe joined the Studium Urbis in the spring of 2001 with her architectural and visual studies research on Siena and Perugia, and her efforts with the SU include the co-founding of the 'virtual studio'. Michelle is a licensed architect, designer, and artist. She holds degrees from Rice University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was a University Fellow at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, in addition to a year of post-graduate work at Yale University. Her professional experience includes work with the offices of Centerbrook Architects and Cesar Pelli & Associates. Michelle commenced her drawings and research work on cities and architectural views in 1994-96 as a Fulbright Scholar in Fine Arts & Architecture in Umbria, Italy at the Università degli Studi di Perugia / the American Academy in Rome and has continued her drawings and teaching in architecture and visual studies. In 2002 she was awarded a Graham Foundation Grant in conjunction with Allan Ceen to sponsor the Giambattista Nolli Conference in Rome.

Michelle has traveled extensively and has focused on issues pertaining to the history of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design; cartography, architectural views, and visual studies; and fabrication and materials technology. She is currently working on a series of drawings and paintings of various locations in Italy and New York as well as a 'cartographic biography' series and other digital and silver gelatin print works. She has exhibited her photographs, drawings, and paintings in several locations in the States and Italy, and her article on Sienese urbanism was published in the Proceedings of the 1999 ACSA International Conference. Michelle recently relocated from the NYC/CT area to Portland, OR, where she maintains her studio.

Email: mlafoe@alumni.rice.edu.

The Studium Urbis
Rome Research Center in Architecture and Urban Planning
Centro ricerca topografica di Roma
Via di Montoro 24 - 00186 Rome Italy
Tel. (06) 686-1191 (Rome)
studiumurbis@gmail.com
http://www.studiumurbis.org