Los Angeles recently lost one of its greatest visionaries. It is with heavy hearts that we also honor and remember legendary philanthropist and architect, Frank Gehry.
Frank Gehry did more than design some of LA’s and the world’s most iconic buildings; he reshaped the visual identity of our city and redefined how the world sees Los Angeles. From Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Colburn Center to countless other boundary-breaking structures, his work transformed our skyline into a living work of art and made LA a global capital for architecture, creativity, and innovation.
His legacy also lives on in deeply personal ways within our LACHSA family. His children are LACHSA alumni, and they continue to serve on the Foundation’s Advisory Council, with one being a teaching artist at LACHSA. They pass forward the same spirit of imagination, experimentation, and creative courage that defined their father’s life and work.
In addition to his architecture, Frank Gehry will also be remembered for his significant philanthropy, particularly through his pro bono architectural work and support for arts education and health research. He supported the LACHSA Foundation and our efforts to support and elevate the arts programming at LACHSA, as well as co-founded and served as a board member for Turnaround Arts: California, a non-profit dedicated to expanding arts education in under-resourced public schools. These efforts reflect his belief in the transformative power of the arts education. In addition, his firm provided pro bono design services for several community-focused projects in LA, including the headquarters for the Children’s Institute, Inc., a social services provider in Watts, and the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center, an educational and performance space for the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. He also worked pro bono with the L.A. River Revitalization Corp. to develop the LA River Master Plan in 2014, including the future SELA Cultural Center.Mr. Gehry also contributed to global charitable efforts, such as the Make It Right Foundation to build sustainable housing in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans and designed a Vespa for a Special Olympics charity auction. Additionally, he supported medical research as a member of the leadership council for the Hereditary Disease Foundation and the New York Stem Cell Foundation. His philanthropic efforts aimed to connect people, foster creativity, and use architecture as a tool for community revitalization and social good.
We honor Frank Gehry not only for what he built in steel and glass, but for what he built in possibility. His legacy will echo throughout Greater Los Angeles, throughout the world, and through generations of artists and innovators for decades to come. Our hearts are with the Gehry family and all who were inspired by his extraordinary life and creations.
Watch this short documentary produced in 2018 by Nowness, a global video channel screening the best in culture, called Creating Feeling with Frank Gehry to get a glimpse of his genius and his philosophy in art.
LACHSA Foundation is a registered 501(c)3. The Foundation was founded in 1984 to provide critical funding that bridges the gap between public education funding and the annual needs of an exemplary arts education at LACHSA. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
