In April 1925, the world was officially introduced to Art Deco design in Paris at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts). During its six month run, the Exposition had 15,000 exhibitors from around the world and 15 million visitors, who came to view the new modern design movement that was gaining popularity globally. Now one hundred years later, Art Deco has left a lasting legacy as one of the most important design movements of the 20th century.
Launching Art Deco
The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes was many years in the making. It started when a group of artists, Société des Artistes Décorateurs (The Society of Decorative Artists) petitioned the French government for an event that would showcase their talents. The government agreed in 1912, thinking that event would be an excellent way to highlight the design leadership of France. The fair was scheduled for 1915, but had to be rescheduled due to the outbreak of World War I. When the fair finally arrived, it delivered a strong message of modernism at the direction of the fair’s organizers who noted in the program that it was "open to all manufacturers whose products are artistic in character and show clearly modern tendencies." Art Deco encompassed every area of design including architecture, furniture, art, home accessories, movies, jewelry and fashion. Many major jewelry houses of the time exhibited at the fair including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, the latter of which was honored with the Grand Prize for its “Entwined Flowers, Red and White Roses” bracelet.
Art Deco Modernism Versus Tradition
The new modernist designs that were on display at the Exposition were much different from the familiar flowing curves and naturalistic influences of the Victorian and Art Nouveau styles. Instead, Art Deco celebrated structure, straight lines, simple shapes, symmetry, repeating patterns and bold use of color. In a shift away from nature, machinery and industrial materials were sources of inspiration with steel, aluminum and chrome used heavily to convey this new design message, that reflected the world’s move into a new era of faster transportation and technological advances.
While the Art Deco movement was centered in Paris, it also had a strong following in New York City where the style was used to design a number of iconic landmarks including both the Chrysler and Empire State buildings and Rockefeller Center. Miami Beach was another area with a high concentration of Art Deco architecture that continues to draw tourists today.
Global Influences
Art Deco design brought in elements and influences from around the world. Egyptian motifs sparked by the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922, were prominent, as were Asian influences from Japan and China, African masks and Islamic art. Together they created an exotic sophistication embraced by a backdrop of glamour and opulence.
Cubism, the avant-garde movement started by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early years of the 1900s, was also a big influence in Art Deco design. The geometric forms and angles were echoed in other decorative arts of the time. The influential Bauhaus art school (1919-1933) in Germany, also encouraged minimalism and simplicity in all the decorative arts, focusing on abstract geometric shapes and function, free of frills and embellishment.
Art Deco Attitude and Lifestyle
Art Deco was not just about design, but also about a lifestyle and outlook that was connected to the prosperity of the 1920s. The look was highly stylized, sophisticated and opulent, suggesting progress, hope and optimism. Motifs, such as the sunburst, signified energy and positivity. Zig-zag and chevron patterns along with vertical lines evoked movement at a time when people were enthralled with new forms of faster transportation. Despite the stock market crash of 1929 triggering an economic depression that lasted through the next decade, Art Deco stayed strong, as designs morphed into less embellished, rounder, more aerodynamic forms that were still bold. This 1930s style was sometimes referred to as Art Moderne, or Streamline Moderne.
To honor the 100th anniversary of Art Deco, there are a number of museum exhibitions planned throughout the year to showcase the beauty of the era, below are a couple of shows in Paris and New York to get you started.
The Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris:
Paul Poiret: Couturier, Decorator & Perfumer, June 25, 2025 – January 11, 2026.
1925-2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco, October 21, 2025 – February 22, 2026.
Museum of the City of New York, New York City:
Art Deco City: New York Postcards from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection, now through February 17, 2026.
Top of Page: Poster from the Ministere du commerce et de l’industire, Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, illustrated by Antoine Bourdelle, 1925, courtesy WikiCommons.
Art Deco demantoid garnet, diamond and platinum brooch; Art Deco diamond and platinum bracelet, French, circa 1930; Art Deco ruby, diamond and platinum ring; Art Deco diamond, natural saltwater pearl and platinum ear pendants.
Authored by Amber Michelle