Frank Lloyd Wright is one of America’s most beloved architects. While people around the world appreciate his architectural legacy, few people realize the dramatic ups and downs that marked his career and personal life. He experienced deeply fulfilling career successes followed by professional exhaustion. Domestic bliss was followed by social controversy and then, devastating tragedy. These events were often the impetus for some of his most inspiring architectural works.
The Roots of Architectural Passion
Wright was born in 1867 in Richland Center, Wisconsin, but he moved around frequently with his family since his father, a preacher, was called to different states for ministry roles. Through these re-locations, he found refuge and peace exploring the natural world. These early connections to nature informed his work throughout his career.
Wright’s parents divorced when he was a teenager, a rare and even scandalous occurrence in the 1880s. When money became tight, and he needed work to help support his family. He sought a position in a firm doing what he knew was his true calling: architecture.
When renowned architect Louis Sullivan hired Wright, he became a proponent of the Prairie School style of architecture. He developed an “organic architecture” concept that aimed to create structures in harmony with their natural surroundings. Wright also believed that architecture should be centered around craftsmanship, a philosophy increasingly at odds with the mass production methods that were becoming more popular. Wright and Sullivan eventually had an acrimonious split because Wright had started taking on additional work on the side, and then forged out on his own.
Domestic Turbulence
While Wright was employed by architect Louis Sullivan when he married his first wife, Catherine Tobin. She was supportive of his career, and the couple went on to have six children. The family seemed to be the picture of domestic bliss, but after many years together, Wright fell in love with a client’s wife, Mamah Borthwick Cheney. They began an affair that erupted into scandal, resulting in both leaving their families behind to spend time in Europe. When they returned to the U.S., they were shunned from social circles and retreated to a private home that Wright designed called Taliesin.
Despite their attempts to build a new life, tragedy would soon strike. In 1914, a disgruntled Taliesin employee attacked Mamah and her two children with a hatchet and then deliberately set fire to the house. All seven people in the house perished in what is known as one of the biggest mass murders of the time.
Wright found solace in his work and rebuilt the home in Mamah’s memory. He eventually found love again with a sculptor named Miriam Noel, but their relationship was rocky from the start. After four years of turmoil, including Miriam’s struggles with addiction, they divorced.
Not long after his divorce, Wright met and married Olgivanna Lazovich, a dancer from Montenegro. This marriage lasted until his death in 1959, and she played a key part in managing his legacy. Among other contributions, she ensured that a Taliesin Fellowship for young architects continued long after he was gone.
An Enduring Legacy
While Wright’s love life was filled with a mix of passion, heartbreak, and scandal, it fueled his creative spirit. By channeling his emotions into his work, he created deeply personal spaces and forged new architectural frontiers. He never lost his passion for the natural world as an anchor of design, and his influence can still be seen in contemporary design principles that emphasize sustainability and harmony with nature.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s turbulent personal life sparked his creative brilliance, resulting in architectural masterpieces that still inspire today. His dedication to harmonizing nature with design, despite facing love and career struggles, solidified his legacy as one of history’s most influential architects.
For a deeper look at one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early contributions to the field of architecture, pick up a copy of Frank Lloyd Wright’s $10,000 Home from Master Wings Publishing. The book includes rich photography and rare illustrations of an important building in Wright’s impressive portfolio of work. Also, explore all of his iconic works by visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust website.