Frank Gehry Honored at JF Chen by Museum of California Design

Photos by Nancy Baron

The Museum of California Design celebrated Frank Gehry on Sunday afternoon for his 40 years of exceptional achievements in product design.  Mr. Gehry accepted the Museum’s Henry Award at a celebration at  Joel Chen’s stylish space JF CHEN@1135 in the Highland Avenue Arts District. The event attracted more than 300 design devotees to view the installation, “Frank Gehry: Forty Years of Product Design 1972-2012,” the first-ever survey exhibition of Gehry-designed furniture, lighting, jewelry and objects.

Joel Chen, legendary in design circles in the city for decades, and a resident of Windsor Square, hosted the tribute to Mr. Gehry, which benefited the Museum of California Design (MOCAD). The museum was founded in 1999 by Bill Stern to honor California’s unique contributions to commercial design and to further the understanding of how design affects the way we live. Stern organizes innovated pop up exhibitions and events like Sunday’s to promote the message of the museum. The exhibit, “Frank Gehry: Forty Years of Product Design 1972-2012,” was curated by Bill Stern and can be seen through Thursday of this week at JF CHEN@1135. Gallery hours are 10:00 am to 5 pm.

For a comprehensive review  of Gehry’s architectural work from the early 1960s, when he established his firm in Los Angeles, to the present, visit LACMA’s exhibit “Frank Gehry”  currently on view through March 10, 2016. The exhibit features more than 200 drawings, many of which have never been seen publicly, as well as 65 models that illuminate the evolution of Gehry’s thinking.

The story has been updated to correct the name of the corrugated chair and ottoman to Beaver Chair.