Architect Frank Gehry & Formica ColorCore® Laminate share history of innovation --- on display in New York City
I decided the fish was the model for the future of architecture because it expressed sculptural movement —Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry, known for his innovative undulating buildings like the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003); Guggenheim Bilbao (1997); Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago (2004); and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (opening 2025) started his experimentation of architectural forms for the Formica Corporation ‘Surface & Ornament’ exhibition (1983). To celebrate the introduction of ColorCore® in the early 80s, the Formica team invited key architects as well as announced a competition to create unique furniture with the new material.
© Frank O. Gehry
Photo: Maris Hutchinson
Courtesy Gagosian
With the Ryba design (a fish lamp), Frank recognized the opportunity of ColorCore® as a sculptural medium, transforming the flat surfacing material into three-dimensional art. Thinking differently was key to both Gehry’s architecture and a Formica quest to elevate the laminate category. The ColorCore® iconic fish inspired Gehry’s friends to request additional editions. And Gehry continued working with ColorCore®2 in 2014 for 17 large fish hanging in the atrium of the Louis Vuitton Museum he designed outside of Paris.
© Frank O. Gehry
Photo: Maris Hutchinson
Courtesy Gagosian
Frank Gehry again focuses on sculptural ColorCore® as highlighted at the new ‘Ruminations’ exhibition at the Gagosian Madison Avenue, New York location (February 8–April 6, 2024). Ruminations features large-scale objects including Gehry’s Fish Lamps sculpture series (1984–86 and 2012–) and a ColorCore® Crocodile Lamp sculpture.
For more photos of this exhibit, please click on the following link to view: Frank Gehry: Ruminations, 976 Madison Avenue, New York, February 8–April 6, 2024 | Gagosian
