Frank Gehry, the legendary American architect known for his groundbreaking and unconventional designs, has died at the age of 96. The Pritzker Prize-winning architect passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at his home in Santa Monica following a brief respiratory illness, according to his assistant Meaghan Lloyd.
Gehry was widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and sought-after architects, celebrated for his innovative and distinctive architectural style. His remarkable career spanned decades, during which he created some of the most iconic buildings of the modern era. In 1989, he was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, often referred to as the Nobel Prize of architecture.
Among his most celebrated works are the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which revolutionized museum architecture with its flowing, metallic curves. Other notable projects include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation in Paris. Each of these buildings showcased Gehry's signature style of bold, sculptural forms that challenged traditional architectural conventions.
Born in 1929 in Toronto, Canada, Gehry came from a family of Jewish immigrants from Poland. As a teenager, his family relocated to Los Angeles, where both his father and Gehry himself initially worked as truck drivers to make ends meet. Despite these humble beginnings, Gehry's artistic potential was recognized early when a teacher at the evening school where he was completing his education noticed his interest in architecture and encouraged him to pursue it.
In the 1960s, Gehry established his own architecture studio in Los Angeles and began receiving his first commissions. His unique vision and innovative approach to design gradually gained recognition, leading to increasingly prestigious projects around the world. What set Gehry apart was his ability to transform architectural concepts into flowing, organic forms that seemed to defy conventional engineering principles while maintaining structural integrity.
Even in his advanced age, Gehry remained actively engaged in his profession, continuing to work on new designs and projects until the very end of his life. His dedication to architecture and his relentless pursuit of innovation made him a true icon in the field, inspiring countless architects and designers worldwide. His death marks the end of an era in contemporary architecture, leaving behind a legacy of buildings that will continue to inspire and amaze future generations.
