Art Deco

What is Art Deco?

Art Deco started to appear in Europe as early as World War I but rose to prominence in France during the 1920s. Its name is a short form of Arts Décoratifs which was taken from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts) which was held in Paris in 1925.

Art Deco totally dominated the European art world in the 1920s and 30s and then celebrated a brief resurgence in the 1960s. It embraced technology and bold, abstract shapes, setting it clearly apart from its predecessor Art Nouveau with its soft lines and focus on nature and mythology.

In America, famous architectural examples of Art Deco include the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Radio City Music Hall, and Rockefeller Center, all in New York City. These buildings also served as showcases for Art Deco sculptural and decorative art. But American Artists did not just follow their European peers, they created their own styles: Zig Zag style, Streamline Moderne, Prairie School can all be seen as offshoots or overlapping Art Deco styles.

The most famous examples of Art Deco medallic art are probably French and Belgian, but American artists can certainly compete in the master category. Some of their works are selected for display in the Medals section.