The Fondation Louis Vuitton, a private cultural center and contemporary art museum designed by LA-based architect Frank Gehry, formally opens its doors today to an enthused Parisian audience. Situated on the northern edge of Paris’ largest park, the Bois de Boulogne, the museum invites the public to discover works both from the permanent collection and twice-a-year temporary exhibitions as well as enjoy musical events in the auditorium.
French President Francois Hollande, who attended the inaugural ceremony held last week, described the building as “a cathedral of light” that was “a miracle of intelligence, creativity, and technology.” Wrapped in huge curving glass panels and suspended on one end over a cascading fountain, the $143 million Fondation Louis Vuitton offers 126,000 sq. ft. of gallery space.
Of special note is the first major retrospective of the work of Frank Gehry organized simultaneously across town at the Centre Pompidou. The exhibition, Frank Gehry, will include models, photographs and drawings from every stage of the architect’s long career, as well as video and film clips. Gehry’s work is divided into six chronological phases and includes sections exploring his buildings’ connections to their urban context and his firm’s use of digital technology. Those unable to travel to the city of lights can see the collection—although modified—at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art next September.
Read more about the museum here and here, or visit their website.
