Wayne Thom’s career extended well into the 21st century, and he grew and transformed his practice in response to new clients, project types, and locations. This digital interactive exhibition, titled “Wayne Thom 50/50” in reference to 50 standout projects completed over the course of his 50-year career, invites you to explore the breadth of materials in the Wayne Thom Photography Archive. One important component highlights Thom’s work in Southeast Asia, where firms from Southern California, like Killingsworth, Brady & Associates, to those from Hong Kong, like Palmer & Turner, built resorts for a growing international conference and travel clientele. In his photographs of I. M. Pei’s OCBC Tower in Singapore (1976), Thom captures the dichotomy between the traditional and modernizing city. Hawaii also became a frequent destination point during this time, and Thom photographed this growth in resort, civic, and residential architecture. Clients included the prolific modernist Vladimir Ossipoff and the more whimsical firm Au, Cutting, Smith architects. While Thom’s career is characterized by commercial commissions, he also photographed many residential projects, particularly in the later decades of his career. He was particularly close with Harry Teague who innovated Colorado vernacular architecture. On these trips, Thom would combine his love for skiing with his love for architecture, photographing in the morning, visiting with architect friends in the evening, and carving out time to hit the slopes in between.
This digital exhibition will continue to be available to the public after the exhibition’s conclusion, serving as an important connection point between the public and the Wayne Thom Photography Collection at USC.