The term Art Deco refers to a style that spanned the boom of the roaring 1920s and the bust of the Depression-ridden 1930s. It affected all forms of design, from the fine and decorative arts to fashion, film, photography, transport and product design. In 2003, the V&A hosted the major exhibition Art Deco: 1910-1939.
Art Deco
The term Art Deco, coined in the 1960s, refers to a style that spanned the boom of the roaring 1920s and the bust of the Depression-ridden 1930s. It was the style of the fl…
Read article
Art Deco: Design Influences
Art Deco, like its forerunner Art Nouveau, was an eclectic style and drew on many sources. Designers sought to infuse jaded traditions with new life and to create a modern …
Read article
Art Deco: Global Inspiration
In their creation of a modern style, Art Deco designers drew on distant and ancient cultures. The arts of Africa and East Asia provided rich sources of forms and materials.…
Read article
Art Deco: The 1925 Paris Exhibition
Many international exhibitions helped promote Art Deco, but none was more important than the Paris Exhibition of 1925. Dedicated to modern decorative arts, the exhibition b…
Read article
Art Deco: Exotic and Moderne
During the Art Deco period, the exotic touched every aspect of contemporary life. Motifs such as lotus flowers, tropical birds and animals, dancing girls and native figures…
Read article
Art Deco around the World
Carried on the winds of commerce and capitalism, Art Deco spread quickly after 1925. A dynamic new age of communications ensured its global reach.
Read article
Art Deco in America
The impact of Art Deco in America was extensive and profound. Knowledge of the new style spread rapidly as Europeans emigrated to the US and American designers travelled to…
Read article
Art Deco Objects in Detail
A detailed look at a selection of Art Deco objects from the V&A's collections.
Read article
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker, international star of sensational, exotic cabarets including La Revue Nègre, and the infamous Folies Bergère in Paris and Berlin, was born on 3 June 1906 i…
Read article
Art Deco Study Guide
A selection of material including bibliographies, lists of periodicals, exhibitions, and sales catalogues about Art Deco.
Read article
Become a V&A Member
V&A Members enjoy a wealth of benefits, including free entry to exhibitions, previews, exciting events and the V&A Members’ Room. In addition, you will be supporting the vital work of the V&A.
Buy or Renew Membership OnlineShop online
Art Deco London
Art Deco London written by Colin Hines, designed by Keith Cheetham, with photographs by Paul Riddle is the first ever guide book to the 20's and 30's …
Buy nowEvent - Introducing Art Deco
Sat 18 May 2013 14:00
STUDY DAY: Discover the delights of Art Deco, the most distinctive of the inter-war styles.
Book online
