Art Deco

Art Deco is the 20th century’s most glamorous architectural style, and the one that shaped popular ideas of modern luxury. With over 200 photographs, this is a visual celebration of this very popular style. Unlike most other books on the subject that tend to be regionally specific, this book highlights Art Deco buildings from all over the world, from Australia to South America, with an emphasis on London, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and Paris. Art Deco features much careful and exacting detail, and of special interest in this book are photos that zoom in on murals, mosaics, flooring, ironwork, and other ornamental flourishes.

Art Deco began in 1925 and quickly swept the globe becoming the style epitomizing Jazz Age glamor and sophistication. It drew from a variety of influences including ancient Egyptian, Moorish, and Mayan motifs but also modernist movements like Cubism, Fauvism, and De Stijl. Its influence was felt everywhere, from the skylines of New York to Shanghai, and it gained prominence not only with architects and designers but enjoyed a passionate following among the public as well.

About the contributor(s):

Arnold Schwartzman is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, a noted graphic designer, and the author of a score of books including London Art Deco and Deco Landmarks: Art Deco Gems of Los Angeles. He began his design career in British television before moving to Hollywood in 1978. He was the Director of Design for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and designed many of the key graphic elements for the annual Academy Awards. In 2010, he created the two murals for the Grand Lobby of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. In 2001 he was awarded an OBE and in 2006 he was appointed a Royal Designer by the Royal Society of Arts.