E. Fay Jones

Euine Fay Jones was an American architect and designer whose timeless work continues to inspire and captivate. Central to his design approach was the concept of organic architecture — a practice that emphasizes the integration of natural materials, forms, and light. Jones's work focused primarily on the intimate rather than the grandiose, and his most renowned works are chapels and private homes.

Born in 1921, in Pine Bluff Arkansas, Jones developed a connection with nature from an early age. The vast wilderness surrounding his childhood home ignited a profound sense of appreciation for the natural world, which would later shape his architectural philosophy. And throughout his career, he sought to create an architectural language indigenous to the Ozarks and Arkansas Delta regions.

In 1990, he was awarded the American Institute of Architects’s highest honor, the AIA Gold Medal. The AIA later honored Jones as one of the country’s “Ten most influential living architects" and ranked his masterwork, Thorncrown Chapel, as the fourth best building by an American architect in the 20th century.

He was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, but he reached his own original and inspiring conclusions.

Among his many talents, he was a gifted educator, deeply committed to nurturing younger generations of architects.

“A member of the University of Arkansas’ first graduating class of architecture students, Jones taught for 35 years and served as the School of Architecture’s first dean. Jones’ passion for architecture inspired generations of students; his international reputation also drew outstanding practitioners to lecture and teach on campus, helping to establish the school’s national reputation for excellence.”

— Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design | University of Arkansas

His favorite buildings were caves and treehouses.

Fay Jones in his office. Credit: University of Arkansas Libraries | Fay Jones Collection