Object Timeline

1929

  • Work on this object began.

2017

  • We acquired this object.

  • We photographed this object.

  • Work on this object ended.

2025

  • You found it!

Drawing, Sketch of Martin and Mickey Friedman's Living Room, 18 East 12th Street, New York, NY

This is a Drawing. It was designed by Frank O. Gehry. It is dated n.d. and we acquired it in 2017. Its medium is pen and black ink on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This drawing by Frank Gehry would be the first work by the renowned architect to enter Cooper Hewitt's Collection of Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design. Sketched on paper from New York City's downtown Gotham Bar and Grill, the drawing presents a proposed design for the living room of Martin and Mickey Friedman, a former director and a design curator of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While the drawing presents a design for a private residence rather than a public building, the sketch captures a strong impression of Gehry's hand in a more spontaneous design produced for friends in a casual setting. In addition to enhancing the story of Gehry's design process by relating to the museum's existing holdings of his furniture and lighting designs, the drawing is also in the spirit of several other spontaneous concept drawings in DPGD's collection, including a napkin sketch by designer Ingo Maurer for a 2014 lamp design (2015-15-1).

This object was donated by Lise Friedman. It is credited From Lise, Ceil, and Zoe Friedman in honor of their mother, Mildred Friedman.

Its dimensions are

15.2 × 10.2 cm (6 × 4 in.)

It is inscribed

Inscribed in pen and black ink, vertically, lower center: MARTIN / & MICKEY'S / ROOM; printed in brown, upper center: GOTHAM / BAR AND GRILL; in brown, lower center: 12 East 12th Street New York NY 10003 / Telephone 212.620.4020 - Facsimile 212.627.7810 - Email Gothamgm@aol.com

Cite this object as

Drawing, Sketch of Martin and Mickey Friedman's Living Room, 18 East 12th Street, New York, NY; Designed by Frank O. Gehry (American, b. Canada, 1929); pen and black ink on paper; 15.2 × 10.2 cm (6 × 4 in.); From Lise, Ceil, and Zoe Friedman in honor of their mother, Mildred Friedman; 2017-69-5

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108833497/ |title=Drawing, Sketch of Martin and Mickey Friedman's Living Room, 18 East 12th Street, New York, NY |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=21 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>