Six Lessons from Frank Lloyd Wright

Six lessons from Frank Lloyd Wright for creatives

Frank Lloyd Wright is America’s greatest architect. At least that’s what we’ve been told.

I wanted to decide for myself whether this designation was deserved so I did some intensive research into his life and work (and made this video).

I realized the claim is bullshit. America’s greatest architect? This minimizes his genius.

I see Frank Lloyd Wright as America’s most prolific, creative, and influential artist.

I’m talking Picaso meets Muhammed Ali. An arrogant champion with an astounding portfolio of original work that boggles minds and inspires people even today.

In researching him, I’ve come away with six lessons I can use in my own life and creative work.

1. Create ‘gesamtkunstwerk’

Dining chairs in the Hollyhock House designed per usual by Wright himself. The hollyhock design on the back of these chairs is found in various iterations throughout the house, both inside and out. (Photo: Getty Images)

This German word roughly translates to ‘total work of art’. It’s the idea of being responsible for every detail in a piece of work, big and small.

In Wright’s case, this meant designing not just the building itself, but the furniture, stained glass windows, and even silverware that went inside.

This is a lot of extra work but the payoff is complete cohesion.

It’s all about attention to detail. And it’s these details that make people drop their jaws in appreciation while providing you with pride knowing that every square inch, or frame, or pixel, or word, is exactly where it needs to be.

To me, gesamtkunstwerk means striving for perfection through total, unapologetic ownership. It’s not something you want for every project, but when you really want to leave a mark, create gesamtkunstwerk.

2. Your work gets better, and more fun as you age

Wright designed his masterpiece Fallingwater at 70 years old. He was just getting started.

Wright worked up till his death at age 91.

He seemed to be having the most fun during the second half of his career. His legacy had been cemented and he was getting more work than ever. He confidently bragged that he was “shaking houses out of his sleeve.”

This is when he could pick and choose his jobs and really push the envelope.

I’m not looking to work until I’m 90, but I take comfort knowing that I don’t need to rush into making my masterpiece. And I like the idea of enjoying my work more and more as I age.

Here are a few buildings Wright designed after the ripe age of 80.

3. You don’t want to be a genius

Wright found himself in the papers often. But that will happen when you’re a local celebrity who commits adultery.

I’m no genius. But I’m convinced Frank Lloyd Wright was. And for that I give him my sympathies.

Wright simply saw the world differently than most. And because of this he became his own worst enemy.

He was constantly in the tabloids, usually in debt, relentlessly misunderstood, and had family issues galore. As far as I can tell, these problems stem from his eccentric and obsessive personality. His genius.

When you’re a genius, nothing is ever good enough. This is your blessing and your curse.

Wright openly disparaged fellow architects and artists, sometimes right in front of them. And he had contempt for America’s largest city:“the New York skyline is a medieval atrocity.”

While I wish I was as great a creator as Wright, I don’t want the baggage that comes along with genius.

4. Splurge, because you’ll always find a way to feed yourself

So damn dapper. Wright prided himself on wearing nice clothes, driving fancy cars, and of course using quality materials in his homes.

Frank Lloyd Wright was a snobby son-of-a-bitch.

He famously said, “give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.”

At the risk of embracing the worst of consumerism in society, I like this quote because it reminds me that you only live once. It reminds me not to sweat the small stuff. It reminds me to treat myself.

I want to believe there are benefits to this selfish idea. Here’s my argument:

As creatives, having good taste is a must. We appreciate craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and beautiful things regardless of their practicality. If we deprive ourselves luxury, we risk losing inspiration.

Necessities by definition are boring. They’re about how you survive. Luxuries on the other hand, are about how you live.

Let’s face it, creativity itself is a luxury. And that’s an argument for more of it, not less.

5. Constantly reinvent yourself

The Johnson Wax building in Wisconsin. It was truly innovative with huge ‘lily pad’ support columns and glass Pyrex tubing that formed windows.

The only thing more impressive than the volume of Wright’s work, is the variety.

His career is full of drastic creative change. I think this does four things:

It keeps you in front of your competition
It satiates your creative mind
It forces you to learn new things
It makes for a kick-ass portfolio

Wright’s diverse work has inspired me to embrace change and variety. While it can be hard to break out of a good groove, change is as natural as it is satisfying.

Here are a few more examples that show off Wright’s ever-changing style:

6. Life should be more beautiful

Wright’s home in Arizona, Taliesin West.

Wright said, “the mission of an architect is to help people understand how to make life more beautiful.”

That’s a pretty cool mission.

It makes me want to focus a bit more on form and a bit less on function. Things can be beautiful for the sake of being beautiful.

At the very core of Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy is the concept of ‘organic architecture’. Architecture that is harmonious with its surroundings. There are no strict rules other than complimenting the environment you’re building on. When done right, the land makes your building more beautiful and the land is now more beautiful with your building.

What a wonderful idea for any act of creation.