Los Angeles is mourning the loss of Frank Gehry, the groundbreaking architect whose imagination reshaped the identity of the city and influenced skylines across the world. Known for his boundary-pushing designs and sculptural approach to form, Gehry became synonymous with creative possibility—an artist whose work transcended architecture to become part of the cultural fabric of the city he called home.
Born in Canada and later making Los Angeles his artistic laboratory, Gehry spent more than six decades pushing the limits of what a building could express. His unmistakable style—fluid, metallic, daring—turned structures into landmarks and transformed neighborhoods into destinations. Most notably, the Walt Disney Concert Hall has become one of L.A.’s most iconic symbols, a masterpiece of movement and light that stands at the heart of the city’s Grand Avenue Cultural District. Directly across the street, The Grand continues his legacy of shaping a new cultural and residential core for downtown.
Today, Mayor Karen Bass released a statement honoring Gehry’s life and enduring impact:
“Los Angeles mourns the loss of one of its most beloved and impactful cultural giants. Frank Gehry was not only a legendary architect, but a true visionary who transformed the way our city – and the world – sees and experiences Los Angeles. Frank’s imagination reshaped our skyline into something unmistakable, iconic, and unique.
“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with Frank Gehry, spend time with him, visit him in his studio and collaborate with him. His genius knew no bounds and he displayed a magnanimous love for the cities he worked in.
“From the Walt Disney Concert Hall — the crown jewel of our Grand Avenue Cultural District — to The Grand’s cutting-edge design just across the street, community-rooted projects across our neighborhoods, his work did more than define space – it defined possibility. With a body of work spanning more than six decades, Mr. Gehry made Los Angeles his home, his canvas, and his proving ground — his buildings sparking economic and cultural renewal, inspiring generations of artists, architects, and dreamers.
“But Mr. Gehry’s impact went far beyond his most recognizable works at home and beyond. He also designed the Children’s Institute in Watts. He volunteered his time and talents to shape the L.A. River Master Plan. He developed housing for homeless Veterans. For all of his global acclaim, he always remained deeply committed to the city that helped shape him – and he used his brilliance to give back.
“That is who Frank Gehry is. That is what it means to be an Angeleno.
“On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, Berta; to the Gehry family; to his colleagues at Gehry Partners; and to the countless students, collaborators, and admirers whose lives he touched. Los Angeles will feel Frank Gehry’s absence profoundly – but we will always honor him by continuing to build a city as daring, imaginative, and generous in spirit as Frank Gehry himself.”
Gehry’s contributions were not limited to high-profile cultural institutions. He invested deeply in community-centered work, designing the Children’s Institute in Watts, participating in the L.A. River Master Plan, and creating housing initiatives for homeless veterans. These projects underscored his belief that architecture should serve people first—and that good design has the power to uplift entire communities.
Internationally, his influence stretched from Bilbao to Paris to Prague, yet Gehry always remained anchored in Los Angeles. His studios, collaborations, and mentorship nurtured generations of architects who continue to expand on his revolutionary ideas.
Frank Gehry’s absence will be felt throughout the city he helped shape, but his legacy lives on in every curve of the Disney Concert Hall, every bold line of The Grand, and in every creative spirit inspired by his fearless vision. Los Angeles will continue to build, create, and dream in his honor.
“I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Frank Gehry, in whom I lose a very dear friend and for whom I shall forever retain boundless admiration. I owe to him one of the longest, most intense, and most ambitious creative partnerships I have ever had the privilege to experience. His oeuvre, crowned by the Pritzker Prize, is immense. He will remain a genius of lightness, transparency, and grace. Frank Gehry—who possessed an unparalleled gift for shaping forms, pleating glass like canvas, making it dance like a silhouette—will long endure as a living source of inspiration for Louis Vuitton as well as for all the Maisons of the LVMH group. With the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création, he bestowed upon Paris and upon France his greatest masterpiece, the highest expression of his creative power, commensurate with the friendship he bore our city and the affection he showed for our culture. My wife, my children, and I express our deepest condolences to his wife, Berta, and his children,” Bernard Arnault said.
