Overview

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic of The New Yorker- a brilliant biography of the most celebrated architect of our time. Here, from Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Paul Goldberger, is the first full-fledged critical biography of Frank Gehry, undoubtedly the most famous architect of our time. Goldberger follows Gehry from his humble origins-the son of working-class Jewish immigrants in Toronto-to the heights of his extraordinary career. He explores Gehry's relationship to Los Angeles, a city that welcomed outsider artists and profoundly shaped him in his formative years. He surveys the full range of his work, from the Bilbao Guggenheim to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. to the architect's own home in Santa Monica, which galvanized his neighbors and astonished the world. He analyzes his carefully crafted persona, in which an amiable surface masks a driving ambition. And he discusses his use of technology, not just to change the way a building looks, but to revolutionize the very practice of the field. Comprehensive and incisive, Building Art is a sweeping view of a singular artist-and an essential story of architecture's modern era.

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9780307946393

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Reviews

-Goldberger's big, colorful biography is a tale of moxie and success in the New World . . . an encounter with an architect who is ambitious, cocky and clever--and [a guide who] will present him with a wry and trenchant perspective . . . An informative, startling journey into the inner sanctums of modern architecture's power structure.---Nicholas Fox Weber, The New York Times Book Review -If you're interested in Frank Gehry, the creative force who has conjured up everything from the ebullient billows of the Bilbao Guggenheim to the strong lines of our very own Concord Pavilon from 1975, I can't recommend this expansive survey of his life and work too highly.---John King, San Fransisco Chronicle-An enthralling story . . . more gripping than any novel . . . Gives a deep insight into the life of a revolutionary architect and modern architecture. Both architects and lay people who are itnerested in arts and architecture will benefit from it.---The Washington Post Book Review -Excellent, comprehensive [and] undeniably fascinating . . . Mirroring the rise of contemporary architecture, Gehry emerges from the constraints of mid-century modernism, grapples with questions of urban development and human scale . . . To a remarkable extent, he seems to have found a language of his own, which he can finally and fully articulate.---James Tarmy, Bloomberg Business-Fascinating . . . Agilely balances the disparate subjects of art and biography. Goldberger's critical assessments of Gehry's designs are insightful and often riveting, but he does not neglect the prosaic details of the man's personal life.---Doug Childers, Richmond Times-Dispatch-A big biography . . . penetrating . . . revealing--Susan Stamberg, NPR-A critically fluent, socially and psychologically acute, and well-constructed comprehensive biography, the first of the 'most famous architect in the world.' . . . With avid precision and invaluable insight, Goldberger charts the complicated, punishing battles Gehry waged to construct his ambitious, dreamworld buildings, from private homes to Guggenheim, Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Facebook headquarters, and beyond. The result is an involving work of significant architectural history and a discerning and affecting portrait of a daring and original master builder.---Donna Seaman, Booklist -A riveting storyteller and accomplished reporter . . . [Paul Goldberger] offers a comprehensive look at not only the stories behind Frank Gehry's acclaimed buildings but also the experiences and influences that shaped his life and work. His book is full of little-known facts about the Pritzker Prize-winner that will surprise the most knowledgable Gehry-philes.---Architectural Digest -Terrifically readable . . . satisfying detail on Gehry's career path and hugely complex personality.---Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times -[Goldberger] paints the architect as a down-to-earth sort who designs eminenty functional buildings that respond to their surroundings, exhibit continuity with the past, and embrace Earthlings despite looking like crashed spaceships. He contextualizes Gehry's work with smart discussions of trends in modernism and the Los Angeles art scene that inspired such trends, and offers his usual shrewd, evocative insights.---Publishers Weekly-This is a proper biography, being as much about the personal life of Gehry as it is about his buildings. It reads well, mostly avoiding archi-speak and technicalities, preferring the clarity of plain English.---Architectural Record-Goldberger interrogates the peculiar psyche and restless contradictions of the man to shed light on the motivations behind the architecture.---Samuel Medina, Metropolis-Wonderfully detailed . . . gregariously fascinating . . . invaluable . . . All future biographies will be indebted to Goldberger's groundbreaking, affectionate work.---Steve Donohghue, Open Letters Monthly -Richly researched, intelligent, and graceful.---Kirkus Reviews From the Hardcover edition.

Fascinating. . . . An informative, startling journey into the inner sanctums of modern architecture's power structure. --The New York Times Book Review Revealing. . . . A penetrating portrait. --Morning Edition/NPR Riveting. . . . Full of little-known facts about the Pritzker Prize-winner that will surprise the most knowledgable Gehry-philes. --Architectural Digest Excellent and comprehensive. . . . Undeniably fascinating. --Bloomberg Terrifically readable. . . . Satisfying detail on Gehry's career path and hugely complex personality. --Los Angeles Times Convey[s] the architect's personality and process with deft strokes that have an artistic ease of their own. . . . If you're intrigued by Frank Gehry . . . I can't recommend this expansive survey of his life and work too highly. --John King, San Francisco Chronicle Fascinating. . . . Agilely balances the disparate subjects of art and biography. Goldberger's critical assessments of Gehry's designs are insightful and often riveting. --Richmond Times-Dispatch Critically fluent, socially and psychologically acute. . . . An involving work of significant architectural history and a discerning and affecting portrait of a daring and original master builder. --Booklist (starred review) This full-length critical study of an important contemporary architect is by one of our finest architectural critics. . . . [An] outstanding volume. . . . Highly recommended. --Library Journal (starred review) Richly researched, intelligent, and graceful. --Kirkus Reviews [Goldberger] contextualizes Gehry's work with smart discussions of trends in Modernism and the Los Angeles art scene that inspired such trends, and offers his usual shrewd, evocative insights into the look and feel of buildings. --Publishers Weekly Goldberger's big, colorful biography is a tale of moxie and success in the New World . . . an encounter with an architect who is ambitious, cocky and clever--and [a guide who] will present him with a wry and trenchant perspective . . . An informative, startling journey into the inner sanctums of modern architecture's power structure. --Nicholas Fox Weber, The New York Times Book Review If you're interested in Frank Gehry, the creative force who has conjured up everything from the ebullient billows of the Bilbao Guggenheim to the strong lines of our very own Concord Pavilon from 1975, I can't recommend this expansive survey of his life and work too highly. --John King, San Fransisco Chronicle An enthralling story . . . more gripping than any novel . . . Gives a deep insight into the life of a revolutionary architect and modern architecture. Both architects and lay people who are itnerested in arts and architecture will benefit from it. --The Washington Post Book Review Excellent, comprehensive [and] undeniably fascinating . . . Mirroring the rise of contemporary architecture, Gehry emerges from the constraints of mid-century modernism, grapples with questions of urban development and human scale . . . To a remarkable extent, he seems to have found a language of his own, which he can finally and fully articulate. --James Tarmy, Bloomberg Business Fascinating . . . Agilely balances the disparate subjects of art and biography. Goldberger's critical assessments of Gehry's designs are insightful and often riveting, but he does not neglect the prosaic details of the man's personal life. --Doug Childers, Richmond Times-Dispatch A big biography . . . penetrating . . . revealing -Susan Stamberg, NPR A critically fluent, socially and psychologically acute, and well-constructed comprehensive biography, the first of the 'most famous architect in the world.' . . . With avid precision and invaluable insight, Goldberger charts the complicated, punishing battles Gehry waged to construct his ambitious, dreamworld buildings, from private homes to Guggenheim, Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Facebook headquarters, and beyond. The result is an involving work of significant architectural history and a discerning and affecting portrait of a daring and original master builder. --Donna Seaman, Booklist A riveting storyteller and accomplished reporter . . . [Paul Goldberger] offers a comprehensive look at not only the stories behind Frank Gehry's acclaimed buildings but also the experiences and influences that shaped his life and work. His book is full of little-known facts about the Pritzker Prize-winner that will surprise the most knowledgable Gehry-philes. --Architectural Digest Terrifically readable . . . satisfying detail on Gehry's career path and hugely complex personality. --Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times [Goldberger] paints the architect as a down-to-earth sort who designs eminently functional buildings that respond to their surroundings, exhibit continuity with the past, and embrace Earthlings despite looking like crashed spaceships. He contextualizes Gehry's work with smart discussions of trends in modernism and the Los Angeles art scene that inspired such trends, and offers his usual shrewd, evocative insights. --Publishers Weekly This is a proper biography, being as much about the personal life of Gehry as it is about his buildings. It reads well, mostly avoiding archi-speak and technicalities, preferring the clarity of plain English. --Architectural Record Goldberger interrogates the peculiar psyche and restless contradictions of the man to shed light on the motivations behind the architecture. --Samuel Medina, Metropolis Wonderfully detailed . . . gregariously fascinating . . . invaluable . . . All future biographies will be indebted to Goldberger's groundbreaking, affectionate work. --Steve Donohghue, Open Letters Monthly Richly researched, intelligent, and graceful. --Kirkus Reviews -Goldberger's big, colorful biography is a tale of moxie and success in the New World . . . an encounter with an architect who is ambitious, cocky and clever--and [a guide who] will present him with a wry and trenchant perspective . . . An informative, startling journey into the inner sanctums of modern architecture's power structure.---Nicholas Fox Weber, The New York Times Book Review -If you're interested in Frank Gehry, the creative force who has conjured up everything from the ebullient billows of the Bilbao Guggenheim to the strong lines of our very own Concord Pavilon from 1975, I can't recommend this expansive survey of his life and work too highly.---John King, San Fransisco Chronicle-An enthralling story . . . more gripping than any novel . . . Gives a deep insight into the life of a revolutionary architect and modern architecture. Both architects and lay people who are itnerested in arts and architecture will benefit from it.---The Washington Post Book Review -Excellent, comprehensive [and] undeniably fascinating . . . Mirroring the rise of contemporary architecture, Gehry emerges from the constraints of mid-century modernism, grapples with questions of urban development and human scale . . . To a remarkable extent, he seems to have found a language of his own, which he can finally and fully articulate.---James Tarmy, Bloomberg Business-Fascinating . . . Agilely balances the disparate subjects of art and biography. Goldberger's critical assessments of Gehry's designs are insightful and often riveting, but he does not neglect the prosaic details of the man's personal life.---Doug Childers, Richmond Times-Dispatch-A big biography . . . penetrating . . . revealing--Susan Stamberg, NPR-A critically fluent, socially and psychologically acute, and well-constructed comprehensive biography, the first of the 'most famous architect in the world.' . . . With avid precision and invaluable insight, Goldberger charts the complicated, punishing battles Gehry waged to construct his ambitious, dreamworld buildings, from private homes to Guggenheim, Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Facebook headquarters, and beyond. The result is an involving work of significant architectural history and a discerning and affecting portrait of a daring and original master builder.---Donna Seaman, Booklist -A riveting storyteller and accomplished reporter . . . [Paul Goldberger] offers a comprehensive look at not only the stories behind Frank Gehry's acclaimed buildings but also the experiences and influences that shaped his life and work. His book is full of little-known facts about the Pritzker Prize-winner that will surprise the most knowledgable Gehry-philes.---Architectural Digest -Terrifically readable . . . satisfying detail on Gehry's career path and hugely complex personality.---Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times -[Goldberger] paints the architect as a down-to-earth sort who designs eminenty functional buildings that respond to their surroundings, exhibit continuity with the past, and embrace Earthlings despite looking like crashed spaceships. He contextualizes Gehry's work with smart discussions of trends in modernism and the Los Angeles art scene that inspired such trends, and offers his usual shrewd, evocative insights.---Publishers Weekly-This is a proper biography, being as much about the personal life of Gehry as it is about his buildings. It reads well, mostly avoiding archi-speak and technicalities, preferring the clarity of plain English.---Architectural Record-Goldberger interrogates the peculiar psyche and restless contradictions of the man to shed light on the motivations behind the architecture.---Samuel Medina, Metropolis-Wonderfully detailed . . . gregariously fascinating . . . invaluable . . . All future biographies will be indebted to Goldberger's groundbreaking, affectionate work.---Steve Donohghue, Open Letters Monthly -Richly researched, intelligent, and graceful.---Kirkus Reviews From the Hardcover edition. Goldberger s big, colorful biography is a tale of moxie and success in the New World . . . an encounter with an architect who is ambitious, cocky and clever and [a guide who] will present him with a wry and trenchant perspective . . . An informative, startling journey into the inner sanctums of modern architecture s power structure. Nicholas Fox Weber, The New York Times Book Review If you're interested in Frank Gehry, the creative force who has conjured up everything from the ebullient billows of the Bilbao Guggenheim to the strong lines of our very own Concord Pavilon from 1975, I can't recommend this expansive survey of his life and work too highly. --John King, San Fransisco Chronicle An enthralling story. . . more gripping than any novel . . . Gives a deep insight into the life of a revolutionary architect and modern architecture. Both architects and lay people who are itnerested in arts and architecture will benefit from it. --The Washington Post Book Review Excellent, comprehensive [and] undeniably fascinating . . . Mirroring the rise of contemporary architecture, Gehry emerges from the constraints of mid-century modernism, grapples with questions of urban development and human scale . . . To a remarkable extent, he seems to have found a language of his own, which he can finally and fully articulate. --James Tarmy, Bloomberg Business Fascinating . . . Agilely balances the disparate subjects of art and biography. Goldberger's critical assessments of Gehry's designs are insightful and often riveting, but he does not neglect the prosaic details of the man's personal life. --Doug Childers, Richmond Times-Dispatch A big biography . . . penetrating . . . revealing -Susan Stamberg, NPR A critically fluent, socially and psychologically acute, and well-constructed comprehensive biography, the first of the 'most famous architect in the world.' . . . With avid precision and invaluable insight, Goldberger charts the complicated, punishing battles Gehry waged to construct his ambitious, dreamworld buildings, from private homes to Guggenheim, Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Facebook headquarters, and beyond. The result is an involving work of significant architectural history and a discerning and affecting portrait of a daring and original master builder. --Donna Seaman, Booklist A riveting storyteller and accomplished reporter . . . [Paul Goldberger] offers a comprehensive look at not only the stories behind Frank Gehry's acclaimed buildings but also the experiences and influences that shaped his life and work. His book is full of little-known facts about the Pritzker Prize-winner that will surprise the most knowledgable Gehry-philes. -- Architectural Digest Terrifically readable . . . satisfying detail on Gehry's career path and hugely complex personality. --Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times [Goldberger] paints the architect as a down-to-earth sort who designs eminenty functional buildings that respond to their surroundings, exhibit continuity with the past, and embrace Earthlings despite looking like crashed spaceships. He contextualizes Gehry's work with smart discussions of trends in modernism and the Los Angeles art scene that inspired such trends, and offers his usual shrewd, evocative insights. -- Publishers Weekly This is a proper biography, being as much about the personal life of Gehry as it is about his buildings. It reads well, mostly avoiding archi-speak and technicalities, preferring the clarity of plain English. -- Architectural Record Goldberger interrogates the peculiar psyche and restless contradictions of the man to shed light on the motivations behind the architecture. --Samuel Medina, Metropolis Wonderfully detailed . . . gregariously fascinating . . . invaluable . . . All future biographies will be indebted to Goldberger's groundbreaking, affectionate work. --Steve Donohghue, Open Letters Monthly Richly researched, intelligent, and graceful. -- Kirkus Reviews From the Hardcover edition.

Author Information

Paul Goldberger,a contributing editor atVanity Fair,spent fifteen years as the architecture critic forThe New Yorkerand began his career atThe New York Times,where he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism for his writing on architecture. He is the author of many books, most recentlyWhy Architecture Matters, Building Up and Tearing Down- Reflections on the Age of Architecture,andUp From Zero.He teaches at The New School and lectures widely around the country on architecture, design, historic preservation, and cities. He and his wife, Susan Solomon, live in New York City.

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