Whether you’re considering a new home or just rearranging your current space, there are a number of factors to consider when it comes to designing your space. One important consideration is to take into account the aesthetics of your room. Often, the placement of your furniture and artwork can be a crucial part of creating a space that reflects your style.
Pattern and Decoration
During the early 1970s, a group of artists known as Pattern and Decoration (P&D) grew out of a series of public convenings organized by Robert Zakanitch. Around fifty artists, including Joyce Kozloff, Valerie Jaudon, Dee Shapiro, Kim MacConnel, Kim Scott, Merion Estes, and Susan Michod, used craft techniques and decorative materials in their work.
The Pattern and Decoration movement emerged in opposition to the Minimalist and Conceptualist movements, which had denigrated ornamentation and sought a “purity” of form. It was an attempt to break down the hierarchy of high and low in Western art. The movement challenged the idea that fine art had a superior status to decorative art. It also benefited from lessons learned from the feminist movement.
P&D artists saw a long history of women’s work as the source of contemporary expression. They also recognized that motifs associated with decorative art were a powerful force in the aesthetic of human cultures from the beginning of civilization.
The Pattern and Decoration movement was commercially successful. It was also a subject of scholarly attention. The New York Times published a slide show of P&D artworks. In 2007, the Hudson River Museum exhibited Pattern and Decoration: An Ideal Vision in American Art.
A new generation of artists is embracing Pattern and Decoration’s legacy. David Ebony introduced the movement to younger audiences. One of its key figures, Valerie Jaudon, has created several large-scale public projects, including a cement path on the grounds of the Federal Courthouse in St. Louis.
The MOCA exhibition also includes works by artists not normally considered part of the movement. “With Pleasure” will be on display until May 11, at the museum and then travel to the Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College in New York.
Mid-Century Modern
During the 1950s and 1960s, Mid-Century Modern style became popular. This style drew on themes of atomic science, space exploration, and geometric shapes. It was intended to create a design that was accessible to all.
The style favored clean lines, bold colors, and organic shapes. It also used furniture with tapered legs and geometric prints. It used materials such as plywood, laminates, plastics, metal, and wood.
Mid-Century Modern art often uses geometric shapes and vivid colors. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock inspired the style.
Mid-Century Modern architecture has become iconic. Buildings of this style often used glass, concrete, polished natural stones, and reflective surfaces. They also favored grand furniture.
Artworks from the mid-20th century ranged from sculptures to textural wall hangings. They were as distinctive as furniture. Some drew on Modernism principles from earlier in the century.
The mid-20th century was also an era when pop art became popular. Pop art was an art movement that was heavily influenced by popular culture. In the United States, the movement began in the 1950s. Many of the popular artists were born during this time.
The mid-20th century was also the time when furniture designers began exploring new materials. During World War Two, building materials were scarce. Strong plastic materials were mixed with traditional materials. These materials were then moulded into fluid forms.
Mid-Century Modern furniture is now a staple of many decor styles. These pieces can be found at various retailers. They are especially attractive to those who love colour.
Mid-Century Modern artwork is also a great decorative choice. You can find abstract mid-century modern artwork at a variety of homes and offices. It can add a fresh look to any decor.
Art Deco
During the Roaring Twenties, the Art Deco style of architecture and decorative art was popular in Europe and America. It was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the Bauhaus School. It was also influenced by the new materials of the time, such as lacquer, inlaid wood and plastic. The style was characterized by streamlined forms, bright colors, geometric patterns, and bold motifs.
The Art Deco style was a reaction against the austerity imposed by World War I. The style also reflected the jubilant spirit of the time. Art Deco was popular in Europe and America during the 1930s, but fell in popularity during World War II.
The Art Deco style was inspired by many historic European movements, including Art Nouveau and Futurism. It also drew from the aesthetics of the ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamia.
The Art Deco style of architecture is characterized by streamlined forms, ornamental accents, and luxurious interiors. It is often found in large cities on every continent. It is also evident in a number of artistic genres, including sculpture and painting.
The Art Deco movement was initiated in 1925 by an art community exhibition in Paris. The exhibition was held to encourage the decorative arts and legitimize the arts community. The group was led by Maurice Dufrene and Emile Decour.
The structure of the Art Deco building is based on a mathematical geometric shape. It draws from faceted architectural forms of Ancient Egypt and Babylon. It is also inspired by the forms of the Greek and Roman Empires.
Art Deco buildings were often designed by Italian, French, and Portuguese architects. They used geometric, curved, and stepped forms. They also featured ornamental accents, such as rooftop spires.
