The Gray Man
Spy thriller from the Russo Brothers, starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans
On this international action thriller, as art director for Dennis Gassner, I was tasked with designing several of the film’s most visually distinct and narratively pivotal sets—“jewel boxes” each reflecting the tone, tension, and global scope of the story.
For Laszlo’s apartment—a bold, surreal space meant to evoke the eccentricity of its reclusive owner—I co-designed with set designer David Moreau a two-story set built onsite at the former Boeing hangars in Long Beach, CA. The set was fully tiled floor-to-ceiling in custom mosaics, drawing inspiration from a hybrid of Austria’s Hundertwasserhaus and the textural geometry of Frank Lloyd Wright’s columns and form work.
As the apartment was the backdrop for a major fight sequence, I collaborated closely with the SFX and stunt teams to integrate breakaway elements and a practical trap door. This led into an underground water vitrine—a flooded chamber where our hero engineers an explosive escape—requiring seamless coordination between design, construction, and effects to achieve both visual flair and stunt safety.
Also:
Margaret’s Home (Prague): A refined residence for a retired CIA head, inspired by Victor Horta and Belgian Art Nouveau. Designed with Paul Sonski and Nancy Haigh, the apartment centered around a dramatic bay window rigged for an explosion.
