From sweeping glass forms to sculptural handbags and watches, Louis Vuitton’s showcase at Art Basel Hong Kong traces Frank Gehry’s creative evolution, highlighting the connection between architecture, design, and enduring craftsmanship. This unique exhibit reflects over two decades of creative partnership between Louis Vuitton and Frank Gehry.
Frank Gehry is a highly-esteemed Canadian-American architect renowned for his revolutionary approach to design. His work is uniquely expressive and employs eccentric models that redefine avant-garde and deconstructivist architecture. Gehry is celebrated for iconic structures across the globe, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as his many collaborations with Louis Vuitton.
In 2014, Gehry collaborated with Louis Vuitton to design the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The structure, a striking glass “ship,” serves as a French art gallery and cultural center. That same year, he designed the Louis Vuitton Twisted Box bag for their 160th anniversary collection.
In 2019, Gehry completed the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, his first building in South Korea. The structure features a curved glass façade inspired by the Fondation Louis Vuitton, subtly combined with traditional Korean architecture. Once again, Frank Gehry challenged traditional expectations of symmetry and form, continuing to inspire on a global scale.
Further creations include his iconic Louis Vuitton trunk inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 2022, as well as the Murano glass Blossom toppers for Louis Vuitton’s Les Extraits fragrances. His draw to light and movement also birthed the one-of-a-kind Tambour Moon Flying Tourbillon Poinçon De Genève Sapphire watch in 2024. It became known as an unmatched horological masterpiece defined by its complex dial and transparent glass structure.
Gehry’s architecture incorporates unconventional materials such as corrugated metal, chain-link fencing, plywood, metallic surfaces, and exposed concrete. His structures are organic and fluid, defined by asymmetric shapes and a sense of movement. Each site embodies a sense of “controlled chaos” and soothing cohesion, immersing viewers in the art of Frank Gehry’s balance between curvature, motion, and form. All of which the brilliant designer incorporates into his creative partnerships with Louis Vuitton.
Among the most compelling showcases at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 is Louis Vuitton’s tribute to Frank Gehry. The exhibition is both retrospective and thematic, spotlighting the history of Gehry’s designs and the beauty of his creations. The booth offers a rare glimpse into the designer’s creative processes and displays his exceptional handbags, fragrances, and time pieces.
