Art Deco

Art Deco - a style that spanned the boom of the roaring 20s. Affected all forms of design, from fine and decorative arts to fashion, film, photography, transport, product design and architecture. Common materials used in this style are stainless steel, aluminum, inlaid woods and lacquers.

Many designers of the early Art Deco involved forms of cubism. In some cases, Art Deco was being misunderstood for modern or contemporary style. This is because of clean lines used and simplicity. This made the home decor style an ideal choice especially during the Great Depression.

Art Deco's characteristics include - Ancient Egyptian civilization, tribal art, surrealism, futurism (cubism), contructivism, Neo Classicism, Geometric Abstraction, Popular Culture, Russian Ballet Companies, Modernists including Josef Hoffmann, Frank Lloyd Wright, Adolf Loos.

Unlike Modernism, Art Deco responded to the human need for pleasure and escape. It gave free imagination and fantasies to people all over the world.

Art Deco seems to have roots from everywhere. Most professional designers agree that it is a mixture of Ancient Greek, Mayan, Aztec and Ancient Egyptian styles. Today, you can spot easily the architecture of the Art Deco period. Some of the famous architectural structures include the Radio City Music Hall and the Empire State Building both in New York City. Apart from other buildings there is also the Lincoln Building in Chicago.

Mather Tower ( Lincoln Building )

Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall Inside

Empire State Building

Today many designers are being influenced from places such as New York, France as well as making its comeback with old style 1930s and 1940s paintings.