Life and Style in the Age of Art Deco

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CONTACT: Charles Schuler
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Life and Style in the Age of Art Deco
New exhibition features both high style and utilitarian items that evoke Art Deco, from works by French sculptors such as Max Le Verrier to American streamlined radios
 

SAN FRANCISCO -- Art Deco defines a design style that enjoyed international prominence in the 1920s and ’30s. Dynamic and modern, Art Deco exuded glamour, pleasure, and escape. It took inspiration from the current, mechanized world, while at the same time drawing upon historic European styles, ancient and distant cultures, as well as contemporary avant-garde art. From the age of the flapper in the Roaring ’20s, through the Great Depression in the ’30s, Art Deco permeated all mediums. Fine art, sculpture, architecture, interior design, furnishings, fashion, graphic design and mass-produced goods were all affected by the style.

The Paris International Exposition (Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes) of 1925 first promoted Art Deco to a worldwide audience. From the start, geometric stylization, such as the use of zigzag lines, was a technique applied to all forms of Art Deco. In contrast, the female form, another popular Art Deco subject matter, was portrayed in a sleek silhouette, with designers taking inspiration from Parisian stage shows. While France dominated the luxury Art Deco market, the United States offered affordable mass-produced items using new, low-cost materials including Bakelite and chrome. As the nation became captivated by speed, streamlined designs emphasized clean lines and strong curves, suggesting movement in even the most inert, everyday items. This seductive style captivates once again in Life and Style in the Age of Art Deco.

View the exhibition online.

Life and Style in the Age of Art Deco is located in Terminal 3, Boarding Area F from March 14, 2015, to August 16, 2015. The exhibition is located post-security and is only accessible to passengers ticketed for travel through Terminal 3. There is no charge to view the exhibition.

SFO Museum

SFO Museum was established by the Airport Commission in 1980 for the purposes of humanizing the Airport environment, providing visibility for the unique cultural life of San Francisco, and providing educational services for the traveling public. The Museum was granted initial accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 1999, reaccredited in 2005, and has the distinction of being the only accredited museum in an airport. Today, SFO Museum features approximately twenty galleries throughout the Airport terminals displaying a rotating schedule of art, history, science, and cultural exhibitions, as well as the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a permanent collection dedicated to the history of commercial aviation. To browse current and past exhibitions, research our collection, or for more information, please visit www.flysfo.com/museum.

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