Friday December 5, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Visionary Canadian architect Frank Gehry has died at the age of 96.
He was born in Toronto and moved to the United States in his teenage years. His work began to be recognized when he was in his 40s.
He passed away in Santa Monica, California (February 28, 1929 to December 5, 2025) after a brief respiratory illness.
His original, sculptural, often audacious work won him worldwide renown for his signiature style that included sweeping curves and bold shapes.
Some of his notable works included the Disney concert hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum in Spain which was credited with revitalizing the economy of the region.
Condolences from Canada’s prime minister:
Today Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement of recognition and condolence:
“I was saddened to learn today of the passing of Frank Gehry, a Canadian-born architect whose bold and visionary work earned him recognition and acclaim throughout the world.
“Mr. Gehry’s groundbreaking approach defined modern architecture – combining new materials and shapes never before seen in his field. His unmistakable vision lives on in iconic buildings around the world, including the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.
“He inspired and mentored countless architects, and his visionary work was recognised with his profession’s most prestigious award, the Pritzker Architecture Prize. In 2002, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, and in 2019, he was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Gehry’s family and friends, and to the many admirers of his work.”
Other statements of condolence:
- “Gehry’s work reshaped skylines and redefined how we think about form, movement, and material, long before digital experimentation became part of our daily practice. His buildings weren’t just structures; they were acts of imagination.” ~ Parametric Architecture
- “The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and its constellation of museums mourn the loss of Frank Gehry, whose visionary architecture reshaped our institution and changed cities around the world.” ~ Guggenheim New York
- “Frank Gehry was a gentleman titan of architecture and a master communicator of the future. He recognized that architecture is not just designing a building – it is creating a work of art. As an architect, Frank used his buildings to communicate and make novel impacts on our culture. And through his architecture, Frank enabled people to elevate the expression of their mission from purpose to art. Frank left an indelible mark on his beloved Los Angeles, in California, across America, and indeed around the world – not only through his designs, but also through his generosity.” ~ Nancy Pelosi, 52nd US Speaker of the House
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