Frank Gehry's monumental desk sculpture Icehenge has sold for $243,200 at Freeman's in Chicago, marking a new auction record for one of the architect's design works. The result far exceeded its $20,000 high estimate and highlighted the growing appeal of collectible design.
Created in 2012 for the lobby of Chicago's Inland Steel Building, the 16-part piece was designed as both a reception desk and a sculptural statement. Built from rough-cut, emerald-tinted glass blocks, the work weighs seven tons and reflects Gehry's interest in material texture, light, and transformation.
The installation emerged from a fragment of textured glass Gehry encountered during another project. By arranging oversized blocks at varied angles, he created shifting reflections and emphasized the natural imperfections inside the material. Its green tone also echoed the building's windows and engaged in visual dialogue with Richard Lippold's Radiant I.
Freeman's noted that bidders came from multiple collecting fields, underscoring the crossover value of Gehry's design objects. The buyer plans to keep the piece publicly accessible and is considering a temporary museum loan.
The sale adds a new chapter to Gehry's legacy in design, suggesting that monumental functional art may continue to gain cultural and market momentum in the years ahead.
