The work of Frank Gehry has revolutionised the way we see architecture, and a big, comprehensive retrospective of his work in Europe has been long overdue. The architect's portfolio, including iconic projects such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (1997) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall (2003), features widely recognised landmarks in architectural history.
So, the exhibition that just opened at the Centre Pompidou in Paris will be a welcome chance for professionals and architecture aficionados alike, to dip into the considerable body of the master's oeuvre. An earlier show around the architect's work in 1992 - also at the Pompidou - offered a taster of what was to come, however this exhibition aims to be bolder and bigger, 'a global survey of his work'.
A staggering 225 drawings, 67 models and supporting material and a total of 60 major projects will be on display to present a detailed portrait of the architect's career, since he first started his office in Los Angeles in the early 1960s.
Key projects such as his own world-famous house in Santa Monica, the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and 8 Spruce Street in New York will take the visitor to a journey that describes the development of the architect's design language throughout the decades. The show also revolves around two main themes: urbanism and the development of new systems of digital design and fabrication.
The show opens at a key time for the office - Gehry's Museum of Biodiversity in Panama is also inaugurated this October and his Fondation Luma in Arles is currently on site, while the first ever permanent Gehry building in England has been announced recently as part of the Battersea Power Station development. At the same time, his seminal Louis Vuitton Foundation is also due to launch later this month. Watch this space.
The show comprises a staggering 225 drawings, 67 models and supporting material, presenting a detailed portrait of the architect's career since he set up his office in the early 1960s. Photography: Philippe Migeat, Centre Pompidou.
The Museum of Biodiversity in Panama - seen in construction - is also opening this month. Photography: Gehry Partners LLP.
The Hotel Marques de Riscal,1999-2006, is situtated in Spain. Photography: Thomas Meyer.
Chiat/Day office building, California, 1985-1991. Photography: Grant Mudford.
One of New York's most iconic towers, 8 Spruce Street, 2003-2011. Photography: Gehry Partners.
The Cleveland Clinic at Las Vegas' Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 2005-2010, is also in Gehry's portfolio.
The DZ bank building, Berlin, 1995-2001. Photography: Roland Halbe.
Another of Gehry's key projects is the Frederick R Weisman Art and Teaching Museum in Minneapolis, 1990-2011. Photography: Don F Wong.
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, 1997, is one of the architect's most well-known projects. Photography: Philippe Migeat.
Another iconic project by Frank Gehry is the Nationale-Nederlanden Building (1992-1996) in Prague. Photography: Gehry Partners LLP.
An icon of the Los Angeles skyline, the Walt Disney Concert Hall (1987-2003) is part of Frank Gehry's portfolio too. Photography: Gehry Partners LLP.
ADDRESS
Centre Pompidou
Place Georges-Pompidou
75004 Paris, France
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards: this rammed-earth house in Wiltshire is an eco exemplarTuckey Design Studio’s rammed-earth house in the UK's Wiltshire countryside stands out for its forward-thinking, sustainable building methods – which earned it a place in our trio of Best Use of Material winners at the 2026 Wallpaper* Design Awards
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards: meet Klára Hosnedlová, art’s Best DreamscaperThe immersive worlds that the Czech artist creates make her a worthy Wallpaper* Design Award 2026 winner; she speaks to us ahead of her first show at White Cube, London
-
The wait is over for Jonathan Anderson’s Dior, which has arrived with a Wunderkammer-like pop-up at London’s SelfridgesThe ephemeral store features hundreds of grey Dior boxes, inspired by those which featured in the house’s first-ever store, Colifichets, as well as Anderson’s literary riffs on the Dior Book Tote
-
Remembering Frank Gehry, a titan of architecture and a brilliant human beingLong-time Wallpaper* contributor Michael Webb reflects on the legacy of the Los Angeles architect, who died today at age 96
-
A guide to Renzo Piano’s magic touch for balancing scale and craft in architectureProlific and innovative, Renzo Piano has earned a place among the 20th century's most important architects; we delve into his life and career in this ultimate guide to his work
-
A new London exhibition explores the legacy of Centre Pompidou architect Richard Rogers‘Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings’ – opening tomorrow at Sir John Soane’s Museum – examines Rogers’ high-tech icons, which proposed a democratic future for architecture
-
The museum of the future: how architects are redefining cultural landmarks
What does the museum of the future look like? As art evolves, so do the spaces that house it – pushing architects to rethink form and function
-
A new era: Centre Pompidou architects discuss their bold 2030 plansPlans for the Centre Pompidou 2030 vision were recently announced, revealing a design refresh of the iconic Paris structure; we caught up with its lead architects Moreau Kusunoki to hear more
-
A guide to Frank Gehry's architecture: mesmerising, expressive and sometimes controversialCanadian-American Frank Gehry has earned his position in the hall of fame of contemporary architects through a wealth of groundbreaking designs; here, we explore why, how, and his key buildings
-
Ultimate Norman Foster: into the mind of the architect at Centre PompidouNorman Foster exhibition opens at Centre Pompidou in Paris, celebrating the renowned British architect's ground breaking and extensive body of work, while looking into the future
-
Frank Gehry’s first UK residential project opens at Battersea Power StationAs Prospect Place at Battersea Power Station opens its doors, we discover the design by Gehry Partners
