He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, where he was trained in architecture and design. Following his studies, he worked with renowned architects such as Alvar Aalto in Finland and the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
In 1957, Utzon won an international design competition to build the Sydney Opera House in Australia. This project was one of the greatest challenges of his career, and he worked on the design and construction of the opera house for almost 16 years.
During construction, Utzon faced numerous technical and financial challenges, leading to cost overruns and considerable delays. As a result, in 1966 Utzon controversially left the project before construction was completed.
Despite this, the Sydney Opera House has become an iconic symbol of Australia and a major architectural achievement worldwide. In recognition of his work on the opera house, Utzon has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Pritzker Prize in 2003.
In addition to the Sydney Opera House, Utzon has also designed many other buildings and structures, including private homes, churches, museums and conference centers. He is considered one of the greatest Danish architects and designers of the 20th century.