Louis Vuitton in Conversation With Frank Gehry at Art Basel Hong Kong

Frank Gehry said it himself: “The most important thing is to be curious.”

At Art Basel Hong Kong, a retrospective exhibit looks through the archives to chronicle numerous Louis Vuitton and Frank Gehry collaborations. Objects are vast and varied, yet this eclectic nature befits both Gehry and Vuitton. With handbags, fragrance stoppers, and a Tambour watch, the exhibition shows how Gehry’s legacy continues to inspire and intrigue.

Gehry’s first project for the Maison was the striking Fondation Louis Vuitton (pictured below). Conceptualized in 2001 and inaugurated in 2014, the imaginative structure is both gallery and artwork; its composition led the Maison to solicit site-specific pieces for the Fondation, with 2018’s Open Space program. In Hong Kong, Gehry’s preliminary maquettes and sketches for the Fondation offer a closer look at his creative process.

With dashing, shiny peaks that stretch towards the sky, the architectural marvel offers “glass sails” and “iceberg galleries” that play with volume and light. The structure is also home to a vast collection of art — both historical and contemporary — which it promotes to the public. LVMH’s Bernard Arnault called the Fondation “a new space that opens up a dialogue with a wide public and offers artists and intellectuals a platform for debate and reflection.”

Across the sea, Gehry made his mark on another Louis Vuitton institution: the Maison Seoul. Inspired by traditional Korean architecture and the Fondation alike, the Maison Seoul features an elegant curved glass façade.

Yet Louis Vuitton brought Gehry’s talents into other realms, too. For the Maison’s 160th anniversary collection in 2001, the Toronto-born architect designed the “Twisted Box” bag. Sleek and angular, the bag was an early predecessor to Gehry’s later collections for the label. Other collaborations include a special edition of the Louis Vuitton trunk (inspired by Alice in Wonderland for the Maison’s 200th anniversary, “A Tea Party for Louis”) and the Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry handbag collection: a ten-piece, limited-edition collection shown at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2023.

Enfin, 2024’s Tambour watch concludes the exhibition. Synthesizing Gehry’s radical, curvaceous design language with the expertise of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, Gehry’s take on the Tambour required artistry and engineering in equal measure — much like his architectural work. Arranged for Art Basel Hong Kong, the exhibition stands as a tribute to Gehry’s singular genius.

Louis Vuitton will be present during Art Basel Hong Kong, which runs 27-29 March 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China.

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