Michael Graves was born in Indianapolis. He taught architecture at Princeton since 1962. His architectural works include, for instance, the Portland Public Service Building (1982), at the time an icon for postmodern architecture as the design went against all principles of the new building style, the expansion of the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Newark Museum. He created the best-selling 9093 kettle for Alessi. Michael Graves passed away on March 12, 2015.