Lot 108 | Frank Gehry (American, 1929–2025) | Icehenge Desk from the lobby of the Inland Steel Building. Sold for $243,200

By CGN Staff

Freeman's announced the results of its July 15 Design sale, highlighted by the record-breaking sale of Frank Gehry's Icehenge (2012), which realized $243,200—the highest auction price ever achieved for a work of design by the celebrated architect and designer.

The monumental 16-piece glass installation (Lot 108), originally created for the lobby of Chicago's iconic Inland Steel Building, surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $100,000–$200,000 following spirited online bidding. The result reflects growing collector demand for Gehry's design works and underscores Icehenge's significance at the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and functional design.

"We were thrilled when the opportunity to sell Icehenge was presented to us. Although we knew it might be a difficult object to place due to its size and heft, buyers from a variety of backgrounds and locations turned out in force, a testament to Gehry's enduring star power as one of the preeminent design visionaries of our time," said Roger Ward, Vice President and Head of Department, Design at Freeman's | Hindman. "The buyer is also dedicated to maintaining public access to Icehenge and is considering a temporary loan to a suitable museum or institution. Currently, no specific plans have been finalized."

Weighing approximately 15,000 pounds, Icehenge captivated bidders with its dramatic composition of pale green glass panels, whose jagged, glacier-like forms feature internal bubbles, distortions, and refracted light. Originally conceived as a reception desk, the installation transcends its functional purpose to become a fully realized sculptural environment that showcases Gehry's innovative use of industrial materials.

A Landmark in Chicago's Architectural Story

Icehenge occupies a unique place in Chicago's architectural history. Gehry has long cited the Inland Steel Building as an early influence, having first encountered the landmark in the 1950s. Decades later, its modernist elegance informed several of his celebrated Chicago commissions, including the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and BP Bridge in Millennium Park.

Following Gehry's partial ownership and restoration of the Inland Steel Building in 2005, Icehenge emerged as an unconventional artistic response to the building's clean modernist aesthetic. Fabricated by the renowned John Lewis Glass Studio in Oakland, California, the installation exemplifies Gehry's fascination with transforming industrial materials into expressive works of art.

The record-setting result signals continued momentum in the market for museum-quality works that blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and design, reinforcing Gehry's lasting influence across multiple creative disciplines.