Renowned Architect Frank Gehry, Creator of Walt Disney Concert Hall, Passes Away at 96
Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, whose innovative designs have left an indelible mark on the world's skyline, passed away Friday in his Santa Monica home after a brief respiratory illness. He was 96.
Gehry's affinity for modern pop art led to the creation of iconic buildings that blended art and functionality. Some of his most notable works include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin's DZ Bank Building. His design for an expansion of Facebook's Northern California headquarters was also a notable achievement.
Throughout his illustrious career, Gehry received numerous accolades, including every major architecture award. He won the prestigious Pritzker Prize, described as "refreshingly original and totally American," and received the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, Americans for the Arts lifetime achievement award, and Canada's highest honor, Companion of the Order of Canada.
Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim, Gehry's designs were not without controversy. Some critics dismissed his work as unoriginal or overly commercial, while others questioned his artistic merit. However, Gehry remained undeterred, often embracing criticism and using it to fuel his creative vision.
Born in Toronto on February 28, 1929, as Ephraim Owen Goldberg, Gehry moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1947. He later changed his name at the suggestion of his first wife, who believed antisemitism might be hindering his career. Gehry's passion for architecture began at a young age, and he only pursued it after recognizing his talent in ceramics class.
Gehry is best known for being an architect rather than an artist, stating that architects are "doing buildings" whereas sculptors create art. However, his work blurred the lines between art and architecture, leaving a lasting legacy around the world.
Gehry's impact will be deeply felt as he leaves behind a daughter who passed away in 2008 and other family members who will continue to celebrate his life and work. His buildings, which he described as "something I did well," will endure long after he is gone, a testament to his innovative spirit and creative vision.
Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, whose innovative designs have left an indelible mark on the world's skyline, passed away Friday in his Santa Monica home after a brief respiratory illness. He was 96.
Gehry's affinity for modern pop art led to the creation of iconic buildings that blended art and functionality. Some of his most notable works include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Berlin's DZ Bank Building. His design for an expansion of Facebook's Northern California headquarters was also a notable achievement.
Throughout his illustrious career, Gehry received numerous accolades, including every major architecture award. He won the prestigious Pritzker Prize, described as "refreshingly original and totally American," and received the Royal Institute of British Architects gold medal, Americans for the Arts lifetime achievement award, and Canada's highest honor, Companion of the Order of Canada.
Despite receiving widespread critical acclaim, Gehry's designs were not without controversy. Some critics dismissed his work as unoriginal or overly commercial, while others questioned his artistic merit. However, Gehry remained undeterred, often embracing criticism and using it to fuel his creative vision.
Born in Toronto on February 28, 1929, as Ephraim Owen Goldberg, Gehry moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1947. He later changed his name at the suggestion of his first wife, who believed antisemitism might be hindering his career. Gehry's passion for architecture began at a young age, and he only pursued it after recognizing his talent in ceramics class.
Gehry is best known for being an architect rather than an artist, stating that architects are "doing buildings" whereas sculptors create art. However, his work blurred the lines between art and architecture, leaving a lasting legacy around the world.
Gehry's impact will be deeply felt as he leaves behind a daughter who passed away in 2008 and other family members who will continue to celebrate his life and work. His buildings, which he described as "something I did well," will endure long after he is gone, a testament to his innovative spirit and creative vision.
Gehry's designs were like nothing you'd ever seen before, all curvy and futuristic 
it's crazy how much impact one person can have on the world's architecture landscape. i mean don't get me wrong, some of his stuff was a bit...out there 
but that's what made him so genius, right? anyway, it's sad to think he won't be around to see all the new buildings and designs that'll be inspired by his work. gotta respect a guy who stayed true to himself and didn't care what others thought 
Frank Gehry's passing leaves me so sad 
... He was like a master artist of buildings 
! His designs were always so bold & colorful 
. I loved how he mixed art & functionality in his buildings 
. He will be deeply missed by architecture lovers worldwide 
. His legacy will live on through his amazing creations 
. Rest in peace, Frank Gehry 
... You may not have been perfect for everyone, but your innovative spirit was truly inspiring 
!
can you imagine having to deal with antisemitism in the arts back then? anyway, what's crazy is that people still had mixed feelings about his work even after all these years some loved him for being bold and innovative, while others thought he was just copying styles from other artists 
but hey, at least he didn't care what anyone else thought and kept pushing boundaries till the end 
...like what's with the lack of comments on Gehry's death, i was really hoping to see some decent discussion about his legacy and impact on architecture. but nope, instead it's all just a bunch of generic messages saying "RIP Frank Gehry" 
Frank Gehry, the man behind the masterpieces 
️! Who needs drama when you can have curves and angles 
? His legacy lives on in our minds 
he was a true original, no doubt about it. loved how he didn't care what people thought of his work either, just kept pushin forward and creatin somethin new. that's the kinda attitude we need more of nowadays 
. I mean, who else can make a building look like it was created by a mad scientist and still get away with it? 
. Still, you gotta respect the man's dedication to his craft and his willingness to push boundaries - that's what made him so original 
, what can u say? Frank Gehry was like a genius or something 
, his designs were so crazy cool! i mean, who else could make buildings that look like they were made by a mad scientist 
? but at the same time, i feel bad for him because some ppl didn't understand his style and thought it was unoriginal 
. anyway, he's still an icon in my eyes 
, and his legacy will live on through his amazing buildings 
. u can't beat a guy who's been able to make a career out of doing what he loves, right? passion is everything 
. And can we talk about how many of his buildings look like they were made by a kindergartener having a temper tantrum? 
. And don't even get me started on his whole "architects are just builders" thing 
.
at 96?! Frank Gehry was like a genius or watever! People always sayin he stole designs from other ppl but idk about that...he created iconic buildings everywhere 
