Inspired by his father’s work in Chicago and his grandmother’s appreciation for the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Ryan Moody grew up wanting to be an architect. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in architecture, he worked for a firm owned by Mies van der Rohe’s grandson, contributing to three skyscrapers on the Chicago skyline. He subsequently attended the University of Virginia, earning advanced degrees in architecture and landscape architecture.
“Nature is always a balm,” Moody says. “I have devoted myself to better understanding and harnessing its healing potential.” He credits mentors like Wolfgang Oehme, Jay Graham and Elizabeth Meyer with helping him appreciate the power of plants in the designed landscape.
Moody and his team take pride in creating robust and resilient places to live and work. From intricate townhouse gardens to expansive estates, their approach is informed by a deep understanding of how people interact with their environment. “We have a carefully tuned process that carries us years ahead in a garden’s life,” he affirms.
Founded in 2009 as Moody Landscape Architecture, the firm became Moody Graham following a merger with Graham Landscape Architecture in 2016. There are currently 10 employees in the practice. Moody Graham received three Potomac Chapter ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architecture) awards and two Maryland Chapter ASLA Awards in 2024.