How did Louis Sullivan influence Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and ideas?

Frank Lloyd Wright apprenticed under Louis Sullivan for six years at the firm of Adler and Sullivan, beginning in the late 1880s. Although Wright left the firm in 1893 following a quarrel, he consistently acknowledged Sullivan’s profound influence on the development of his own architectural work and ideas.12

Sullivan served as a mentor who helped shape Wright’s professional philosophy during his formative years. As a leading figure in the reform of architecture, Sullivan championed the rejection of historical eclecticism and encouraged architects to think consciously about the relationship between architecture, civilization, and the environment. His famous dictum, "form follows function," reflected his belief that a building’s design should evolve from and express its specific purpose and structural basis, rather than relying on imitative historical styles.3

By observing Sullivan’s approach—which emphasized clarity, the integration of ornament derived from nature and geometry, and the creation of a unified "germinal idea"—Wright was exposed to a progressive vision that prioritized original, organic design over traditional conventions.23