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West Bend Exhibition

Frank Lloyd Wright

Laylight from the B. Harley Bradley House

September 27, 2025 –October 4, 2026

MOWA | West Bend

About Art Bridges

MOWA continues an ongoing partnership with Art Bridges, a foundation established by Alice Walton in conjunction with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR. In an effort to expand access to American art, Art Bridges provides loans from its growing permanent collection to participating institutions, along with financial support for initiatives that connect local audiences and communities.

 

Frank Lloyd Wright’s B. Harley Bradley House (also known as Glenlloyd) located in Kankakee, Illinois is considered a significant structure in Wright’s oeuvre, marking the beginning of his well-recognized Prairie School style. Inspired by the wide, horizontal midwestern landscape, Wright’s design incorporates natural elements and motifs throughout the home. A total of ninety art-glass windows—described by Wright as “light screens”—blur the line between interior and exterior, highlighting the significant role of windows over walls in enlivening the space.

This laylight comes from a group of six stained-glass panels originally positioned above the dining room table, flat on the ceiling in front of a light source. Each is identical, made of yellow, green, and red pieces arranged in an intricate geometric design. Despite the location within the house, the vibrant colors of the laylight would have created the illusion of a lit outdoor space, allowing viewers to immerse themselves fully in the surrounding environment.

Lent by Art Bridges

Image
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959), Laylight from the B. Harley Bradley House, Kankakee, Illinois, (detail), c 1900, Opaque, clear, and rippled glass with lead caning in original oak frame, 33 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. Art Bridges (detail)

About the Artist

Featured Artist

Frank Lloyd Wright

Richland Center 1867 — Phoenix, Arizona 1959

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Support for this exhibition
generously provided by

James and Karen Hyde