Exhibition Explores Architectural Vision Behind Iconic Best Products Retailers

A new exhibition, “Imagining Best Products,” at the Branch Museum of Design in Richmond, Virginia, offers a comprehensive look at the architectural and design philosophy of the iconic Best Products retail showrooms. The exhibition, running through June 21, brings together for the first time the full scope of the company’s design endeavors, which left an indelible mark on the American retail landscape in the 1970s and ’80s.

Founders Sydney and Frances Lewis, noted modern art philanthropists, transformed their retail business into a platform for a national design dialogue. Best Products became known for its bold, American-scale approach to building, branding, and supply chain management. The company’s distinctive aesthetic extended from its artful product catalogs and custom-designed delivery trucks to its famously distinctive “showpiece buildings.”

The exhibition contextualizes Best Products’ visual development against the backdrop of American political and media events, typographic evolution, and significant cultural moments. Curators present the corporation’s visual identity as a provocative and ambiguous response to its era, reflecting the consumer culture and suburban expansion of the time with graphic cheekiness and a daring built environment.

Pivotal Design Contributions

“Imagining Best Products” showcases a range of original drawings, including pen, colored pencil, and watercolor works from design firms SITE, Robert A. M. Stern, and Stanley Tigerman. While Tigerman and Stern’s proposals were solicited for a 1979 MoMA exhibition, SITE’s work was integral to the actual built showrooms. The exhibition also features extensive graphic materials and ephemera, with some items lent by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, which houses the Best Products archives.

Visitors can view literal pieces from notable showrooms, including the 1979 Venturi Scott Brown & Associates showroom in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and the headquarters designed by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. Iconic 3D Best letters, designed by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, are also on display. A significant section of the exhibition includes scaled drawings and meticulously crafted showroom models created by students from a Harvard GSD seminar on Best Products, taught by exhibition curator Don O’Keefe.

Dialogue with Space

The exhibition design itself embraces Best Products’ wry humor and contextual awareness. Housed within the historic 1916 John Russell Pope Tudor Revival building of the Branch Museum, the contemporary exhibition design aims to create a dialogue with the traditional space. A Best Products shopping cart, placed on a pedestal, serves as a visual anchor. Curator Don O’Keefe noted that the design sought to push the traditional space into a more contemporary terrain, mirroring the way Sydney and Frances Lewis pushed Richmond’s cultural landscape through their patronage of the arts and design commissions.

Programming and Legacy

Complementing the exhibition is a robust schedule of programming. Recent events included a talk by James and Suzan Wines on the design processes behind SITE’s renowned showrooms. Director Jim Venturi is also screening his documentary “Stardust,” a chronicle of the creative partnership between Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, on June 20. The exhibition concludes with a conversation on June 21 with Jay Barrows, the Lewis family’s personal curator, who will discuss their rise as art collectors and the influence of fine art on Best Products’ visual identity.

Though Best Products ceased operations in 1997, its influence endures. The company’s willingness to take risks in its marketing and design strategy, as noted by former president Andy Lewis, set it apart. Today, only one Best Products building remains in its recognizable form—the SITE Forest Showroom in Richmond, now a church. However, the company’s legacy continues to be celebrated within design discourse, with former employees sharing fond memories on online forums, and its unique contribution to American architecture and branding remains a subject of admiration.

Key facts
Exhibition Title | Imagining Best Products
Venue | The Branch Museum of Design, Richmond, Virginia
Duration | Through June 21
Featured Architects/Designers | SITE, Robert A. M. Stern, Stanley Tigerman, Venturi Scott Brown & Associates, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv

The exploration of Best Products’ architectural and branding achievements provides valuable insights into innovative retail design and the power of a cohesive corporate aesthetic. For architects, designers, and urban planners, the exhibition highlights how a bold vision, coupled with a deep engagement with art and culture, can create a lasting impact on the built environment and public consciousness.

Source: The Architect’s Newspaper, https://www.archpaper.com/2026/06/exhibition-revisits-best-products/

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