At Art Basel Hong Kong 2026, Louis Vuitton presents a retrospective dedicated to its long-standing collaboration with Frank Gehry, marking the first edition of the fair since the architect’s passing in December last year. As a Show Partner, the house uses its booth to reflect on a relationship that spanned more than two decades—one that moved fluidly between architecture, design, and object-making, while consistently challenging expectations of scale and material.
Structured across eight chapters, the presentation traces Gehry’s evolution chronologically, from his landmark architectural works to his collaborations with Louis Vuitton. Rather than isolating disciplines, the booth positions them in dialogue, revealing a shared sensibility rooted in experimentation and craftsmanship. Across handbags, fragrance bottles, timepieces, and architectural projects, the partnership is defined by a pursuit of form that feels both intuitive and rigorously constructed.
At the core of the presentation is Gehry’s enduring curiosity—an approach that guided his work across mediums. “The belief over the years that, if you keep asking questions, then you find answers,” he once said. “But the most important thing ever is to be curious.” That ethos is reflected throughout the booth, where each project emerges as an extension of inquiry rather than a fixed outcome.
A Dialogue Between Architecture and Object
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with Gehry began in 2001 with the conception of the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, completed in 2014. Designed as a series of glass sails enveloping iceberg galleries, the building became a defining expression of Gehry’s approach to light, transparency, and movement. Within the foundation, architecture operates as both structure and experience—an idea that would carry through into later collaborations with the house.
In 2019, Gehry extended this dialogue with the Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul, his first building in South Korea. Drawing inspiration from the Fondation’s fluid forms while referencing traditional Korean architecture, the structure reflects a synthesis of global and local influences. The curved glass façade creates a sense of motion, reinforcing Gehry’s interest in buildings that appear to shift and breathe within their surroundings.
Frank Gehry Expanding the Language of Craft
Louis Vuitton booth Art Basel Hong Kong @ Common Studio. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Beyond architecture, Gehry’s collaborations with Louis Vuitton explored how his sculptural vocabulary could translate into objects. For the maison’s 160th anniversary collection, he designed the “Twisted Box” bag. Later projects, including the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland-inspired trunk for the house’s 200th anniversary, further demonstrated his ability to infuse narrative and play into traditional forms.
In 2023, this exploration reached a new scale with the Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry handbag collection, first presented at Art Basel Miami Beach. The limited-edition series translated architectural ideas into wearable objects, reinterpreting the Capucines bag through material and structural experimentation. Pieces such as the Capucines MM Concrete Pockets referenced the textures of Gehry’s façades, while others drew from recurring motifs in his work, including fish and animal forms. The Bear With Us Clutch and Floating Fish designs, in particular, reflect his ongoing fascination with organic movement and sculptural storytelling.
Gehry’s engagement with Louis Vuitton’s Monogram canvas further expanded this language. Through Monogram Studios, he reworked the house’s signature motif into a new visual system, integrating it into designs that balanced heritage with innovation. This approach continued into his work on the Tambour watch in 2024, where traditional horology meets fluid, sculptural form. Finished in sapphire and engraved with his signature, the piece embodies the intersection of precision and experimentation that defined his practice.
A Legacy of Curiosity
Louis Vuitton booth Art Basel Hong Kong @ Common Studio. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton booth Art Basel Hong Kong @ Common Studio. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The retrospective at Art Basel Hong Kong ultimately frames Gehry’s collaboration with Louis Vuitton as an ongoing exchange rather than a series of isolated projects. Across disciplines, his work reflects a consistent willingness to question established forms and push material boundaries—an approach that resonated with the maison’s own commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.
Presented at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 27 to 29, the booth offers a focused look at how Gehry’s ideas translated across scales, from monumental architecture to intimate objects. More than a tribute, it serves as a reminder of a creative partnership defined not by category, but by a shared drive to explore what design can become.
Louis Vuitton booth Art Basel Hong Kong @ Common Studio. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
