Defensively, over the years, I’ve stayed away from the word “artist.” And I’ve stuck to being an architect. History says it’s an art form. But “architect” feels good to me.
– Frank O. Gehry

At first blush, Tiffany & Co.’s Frank Gehry collection looks like the latest installment in the “art as jewelry” movement. But a closer look reveals that this fascinating collection is, in fact, architecture as jewelry.

Frank O. Gehry is, debatably, the greatest living architect today. His innovative designs are breathtaking: the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA, for example. His building/sculptures are the epitome of form meeting function.

It’s no surprise, then, that Gehry’s collaboration with Tiffany and Co. reflects this philosophy. His pieces look modern, but feel classic. Gehry himself comments that, “the Tiffany design work was similar to doing a building. It has the same DNA, so to speak.”

As magnificent as this collection is on display, one can only grasp the true beauty of it while seeing it in its intended context: on the human body.

His “Fish” collection, for example, showcases an abstract form, reminiscent of sinuous movement in deep water. Although these pieces are mostly crafted from metals, the shape looks sensual and warm when nestled against a woman’s skin.

It is altogether entirely apt that Tiffany & Co.’s tagline for Gehry’s collection is “Beauty without rules.” While Gehry’s deconstructivist eye is clearly seen in his pieces, one cannot help but to suspect that this unconventional designer had a very conventional function in mind when he agreed to collaborate with Tiffany & Co.: to create jewelry that would make its wearer feel like a million bucks.

Here’s to Innovation,

Olivia

Posted on 12.May 2008 at 11:41 in Featured Designers. Trackback-Url for this Article.