Opening on June 12th, 2026, in the Álvaro Siza Wing of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art in Porto, O Século de Gehry (The Century of Gehry) offers a major exploration of one of architecture’s most influential visionaries. Conceived as a tribute rather than a traditional retrospective, the exhibition examines Frank Gehry’s remarkable ability to challenge convention and redefine the visual character of cities around the world.
Bringing together nineteen landmark projects, the presentation traces Gehry’s creative journey through large-scale models, drawings, furniture, photographs, films, and archival material. Organized by the Serralves Foundation and curated by António Choupina in collaboration with Gehry Partners and the Getty Research Institute, the exhibition remains on view through December 30, 2026.
Frank Gehry sketches and models reveal the architect’s creative universe
Among the exhibition’s highlights are Frank Gehry’s sketches, maquettes, and conceptual studies, offering a rare glimpse into the instincts and experiments that shaped his architectural language. More than forty drawings, alongside models and previously unseen archival material, chart the development of projects ranging from his groundbreaking Santa Monica residence to internationally celebrated works such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
The exhibition is organized into eight thematic chapters, including Making Something Out of the Ordinary, Finding a Vocabulary, Looking for Movement and Feeling, and Reflecting on the Skyline. These sections reveal how Gehry elevated everyday materials and unexpected forms into some of the most recognizable buildings of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Deconstructivist architecture and the pursuit of movement
While Gehry’s work resists simple labels, the exhibition highlights his decisive role in advancing deconstructivist architecture and blurring the line between sculpture and building. Across projects in Los Angeles, Berlin, Paris, Sydney, Toronto, and Bilbao, visitors encounter an architectural language defined by fluid silhouettes, fractured volumes, and a striking sense of motion.
From the titanium-clad curves of the Guggenheim Bilbao to the sweeping surfaces of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Gehry’s buildings fuse engineering precision with artistic imagination. Each project responds to its surroundings while proposing new ways of experiencing public space, light, and the urban landscape.
A dialogue between Frank Gehry and Álvaro Siza
A particularly compelling aspect of The Century of Gehry is its focus on Gehry’s longstanding friendship with Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. Their professional exchanges—including work on the ArtCenter College of Design master plan in Pasadena—form a significant thread throughout the exhibition. Presented within Siza’s own architectural setting at Serralves, the project creates a conversation between two architects whose ideas have left a lasting mark on contemporary architecture.
Image courtesy of FRANK O. GEHRY & GEHRY PARTNERS, LLP
