Frank Owen Gehry CC FAIA (/ˈɡɛəri/ GAIR-ee; né Goldberg; born February 28, 1929) is a Canadian-American architect and designer. A number of his buildings, including his private residence in Santa Monica, California, have become attractions.
Gehry rose to prominence in the 1970s with his distinctive style that blended everyday materials with complex, dynamic structures. Gehry’s approach to architecture has been described as deconstructivist, though he himself resists categorization. His works are considered among the most important of contemporary architecture in the 2010 World Architecture Survey, leading Vanity Fair to call him “the most important architect of our age”.[2]
Gehry is known for his postmodern designs and use of bold, unconventional forms and materials. His most famous works include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, and the National Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington D.C.[3] These buildings are characterized by their sculptural, often undulating exteriors and innovative use of materials such as titanium and stainless steel.
Throughout his career, Gehry has received numerous awards and honors, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1989, considered the field’s highest honor. He has also been awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States. Gehry’s influence extends beyond architecture; he has designed furniture, jewelry, and liquor bottles.