Art Deco

Art Deco emerged in France around 1910 and reached its zenith during the Roaring Twenties, representing the perfect marriage of contemporary tastes with superior craftsmanship and luxurious materials. This architectural movement, originally known as 'arts décoratifs,' wasn't officially termed 'Art Deco' until 1966, decades after the style's peak. Born from the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs, the style celebrated opulence, glamour, and eccentricity through kaleidoscopic lobbies with vibrant colors and intricate sculptures, perfectly suited to Hollywood's celebrity culture and the prosperous 1920s. The style synthesized modernist geometry with decorative abundance, rejecting Art Nouveau's organic curves for angular precision. The Great Depression of 1929 marked its decline as expensive materials became scarce, with World War II delivering the final blow as wartime practicality favored pure function over decoration. In Los Angeles, Art Deco found unique expression in movie theaters, department stores, office buildings, and commercial structures.