Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines Image

Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines

By Alan Ng | May 20, 2025

Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines invites us into the mind of a man who never just built buildings—he sculpted space with the soul of a painter and the curiosity of a traveler. Directors Danny Berish and Ryan Mah craft more than a biography; they deliver an intimate and visually stunning portrait of a modernist legend whose art was shaped by love, loss, and light. Like one of Erickson’s best designs, the film is elegant, revealing, and unafraid to expose the structural cracks beneath the surface. Beauty Between the Lines reminds us that behind every architectural marvel is a human blueprint—flawed, bold, and deeply inspired.

Arthur Erickson’s life began in Vancouver, British Columbia, where his early talents in art and observation were recognized when, as a child, he was encouraged to draw murals of fish after his father destroyed his aquarium. At a young age, he displayed a knack for surrealist art, which led to his interest in aesthetics and space. During World War II, Erickson was encouraged to pursue a professional career to avoid combat. He’d become a radio operator, never firing a gun.

When the war ended, Erickson visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, which inspired him to pursue architecture. After applying to multiple universities, only McGill University accepted him. Erickson received a prestigious traveling scholarship, allowing him to study critical architectural sites and design philosophies worldwide, shaping his perspective on form and function.

In 1958, Erickson received his first major commission from his friend Buddy Filberg to design the Filberg House. The house showcased his sensitivity to landscape and spatial flow. He gained national prominence in 1963 after winning a competition at Simon Fraser University, in collaboration with soon-to-be partner Geoffrey Massey. This partnership with Massey marked a high point in his career and led to Erickson’s most well-known refined brutalist works. His architectural philosophy prioritized a building’s purpose and relationship to its surroundings, using natural light as a design tool. Erickson was also deeply influenced by Indigenous art and traditions. Despite his growing acclaim, he faced challenges as an openly gay man. As he said, “Being gay is not good for business.”

“He sculpted space with the soul of a painter and the curiosity of a traveler.”

Erickson’s romantic relationships were intertwined with his creative journey, notably with Francisco Kripacz, a furniture designer who later became financially dependent on him. The pair moved in elite artistic circles and were invited by Pierre Trudeau to visit China. Over time, Erickson’s financial troubles grew due to lavish spending and mismanaged projects, including a poorly received acoustic design for Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall and an unprofitable presentation in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war. Francisco’s extravagant lifestyle and Erickson’s willingness to fund it led to the breakup of their business partnership and eventually their romantic relationship as well.

Erickson was next commissioned to design the Canadian Embassy in Washington. This decision was controversial, as he pleaded with his friend and now Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to get the commission. Public opinion turned against him, accusing him of receiving preferential treatment as Trudeau’s favorite. With the added pressures of the AIDS epidemic and mounting debt, his business collapsed, and Erickson would struggle to maintain his professional life until the end.

Apart from the Brady Bunch and the epic film The Brutalist from last year, I know little about architecture. Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines splits its time between Erickson’s personal and professional life. Danny Berish and Ryan Mah spin together a compelling and educational tale of one of the greatest architects of the 1960s and 1970s.

Much of Erickson’s story is told through the eyes of his friends, family, and colleagues. Their words are accompanied by a plethora of photos of his work. In short, Arthur Erickson’s career is well documented. His personal life is equally fascinating. I don’t know that he was a closeted homosexual, but he definitely kept his personal life on the down low. I did get the sense that his relationships with Francisco and later love Alan were not exactly kept secret.

Like one of Erickson’s best designs, the film is elegant, revealing, and unafraid to expose the structural cracks beneath the surface. Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines reminds us that behind every architectural marvel is a human blueprint—flawed, bold, and deeply inspired.

Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines (2025)

Directed and Written: Danny Berish, Ryan Mah

Starring: Arthur Erickson, etc.

Movie score: 7.5/10

Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines Image

"…elegant, revealing, and unafraid to expose the structural cracks…"

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