Canadian American; 1929-2025
Fish Lamp
Material: Glass, silicone, electrical lighting, wood and glue
Measurements: 22.5” x 19.5” x 12”
Location: Welcome Center
Not available for public viewing.
Gehry had been experimenting with the form of the fish for several years when the Formica Corporation commissioned him and other noted designers to create an object using their new product, ColorCore. Unlike traditional plastic laminates, which have color only on the surface, ColorCore features color that extends all the way through the material, giving it edges that are the same color as the surface. The translucence and color consistency of the material appealed to Gehry, who decided a lamp would be an interesting way of exploring these aspects. Originally the artist designed a simple box-shaped lamp, but when one of the prototypes accidentally broke and shattered into shards, their arrowhead-like form and translucence immediately reminded the artist of fish scales. Gehry then began designing lamps in the shape of a fish, which became a recurring motif in his lighting designs.