One hundred years after the groundbreaking 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the Museum of Decorative Arts (MAD) is commemorating this milestone with a spectacular exhibition featuring nearly 1,000 works. The comprehensive show celebrates the Art Deco movement that emerged from that historic 1925 Paris exhibition, showcasing pieces primarily from the museum's own collections alongside loans from other institutions and private collectors.
The centennial exhibition represents a demonstration of the extraordinary talents from what curator and commissioner Anne Monnier Vanryb describes as an "absolutely fabulous era that pushed luxury and refinement in creation to its highest level." The Art Deco style, which lasted only thirty years, became a uniquely French exception that captivated collectors worldwide, particularly in the United States.
Notably absent from the current exhibition are pieces from American collections, despite the well-known American passion for Art Deco. Vanryb explains that importing works from the United States proved impossible due to prohibitive transportation costs and customs fees, which have become even more expensive since the Trump administration. Instead, the curator drew from sufficiently rich treasures available closer to home.
The exhibition presents the complete Art Deco style journey, from its origins to its peak, and includes contemporary reinterpretations. The highlight of the show features an exclusive preview of the new Orient Express train, serving as the centerpiece of this spectacular display. This addition demonstrates how the Art Deco aesthetic continues to influence luxury design in the modern era.
The Museum of Decorative Arts, located on Rue de Rivoli, has created a rich journey through this period of unparalleled refinement, offering visitors an immersive experience into the world of Art Deco. The exhibition showcases the movement's distinctive characteristics, including geometric patterns, luxurious materials, and the marriage of functionality with artistic beauty that defined the era.
This grand celebration not only honors the centennial of the 1925 Paris exhibition but also reinforces the enduring appeal and influence of the Art Deco movement. The comprehensive nature of the show, featuring works spanning from the movement's inception to contemporary interpretations, provides visitors with a complete understanding of how Art Deco shaped design history and continues to inspire creators today.
