Discover everything about the Art Deco style: origin, characteristics, notable works, influential artists, and how to apply it in architecture and decoration.
Submitted at Jul 4, 2025, 2:45 PM
A maximum icon of Art Deco, the Chrysler Building translates into metallic lines and geometric shapes the elegance and optimism of 1930s New York. (Curbed NY)
The art deco is an artistic and aesthetic movement that influenced various areas such as architecture, interior design, fashion, graphic arts, and furniture. It is characterized by straight lines, geometric shapes, symmetry, repetition, and a strong decorative visual appeal. Unlike art nouveau, which valued organic forms and the fluidity of natural elements, art deco represents the advance of modernity, with harder lines and rational composition.
It is also a style that evokes sophistication, often associated with luxury and glamour. Materials such as marble, stainless steel, mirrors, noble woods, lacquer, and gold are recurrent in projects with this language. The style combines functionality with an elegant and imposing aesthetic, often inspired by futurism, cubism, and Egyptian and African arts.
The term "art deco" comes from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925, which presented to the world a new style of modern design, different from the traditions of the past. Although the movement began to take form earlier, in the 1910s, it reached its peak during the 1920s and 1930s.
This period was marked by profound social and technological transformations, such as the post-World War I era, the growth of major cities, industrial advancement, and the rise of the urban middle class. Art deco reflected this new modern society, optimistic and focused on progress, offering an aesthetic that combined art, sophistication, and technological innovation.
In architecture, art deco found space to stand out with iconic buildings in various parts of the world, especially in major cities. The United States, for example, embraced the style vigorously, particularly in New York and Miami. In Brazil, the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are home to excellent examples that have become landmarks in the urban landscape.
Check out some of the most emblematic constructions of the style:
Perhaps the most recognized building in the art deco style, the Chrysler Building is a true icon of New York architecture. With its zigzag metallic crown and details inspired by the automotive industry, it symbolizes the optimism and technological advancement of the 1930s. Its vertical elegance and detailed ornamentation make it one of the greatest examples of the style applied to skyscrapers.
Another symbol of urban verticalization and the grandeur of art deco, the Empire State Building impresses as much for its height as for its aesthetic composition. The symmetrical façade, geometric details, and interior with noble materials reinforce the identity of the movement. In addition, it represents the ambition and spirit of progress of New York at the time.
Located in the Vale do Anhangabaú, the Banco de São Paulo Building was inaugurated in 1938 and is one of the most beautiful representatives of art deco architecture in the city. Designed by architect Álvaro de Arruda Botelho, the building impresses with its verticality, symmetry, and wealth of details.
The pink granite façade, the decorative sculptures, the geometric reliefs, and the monumental portal with stylized columns precisely reflect the distinctive traits of art deco. The interior also holds treasures, such as the hall lined with marble, original fixtures, and metallic details. Today, the building is listed and is frequently used for exhibitions and cultural events.
Built for the International Exposition of 1937, the Palais de Chaillot is one of the main landmarks of art deco in France. Located overlooking the Eiffel Tower, its architectural ensemble impresses with straight lines, monumental shapes, and decorative reliefs sculpted by artists of the time. The symmetry and use of noble materials, such as stone and bronze, reinforce the refined aesthetics of the style, while the interiors were designed to house museums, which further enhances its cultural function.
The beachfront avenue in Miami is famous for its hotels and buildings that represent a tropical version of art deco. Known as "art deco district", the South Beach neighborhood features buildings with pastel tones, rounded shapes, nautical elements, and colorful neons. This lighter and beachy reinterpretation of the style has become a striking visual identity for the city.
Located in front of the Barra Lighthouse, the Edifício Oceania is one of the biggest symbols of art deco in Brazil. Designed in the 1930s by the Freire & Sodré office, construction of the building was completed only in 1943, amid the difficulties caused by World War II. With 12 floors and well-defined geometric lines, the Oceania combines the art deco aesthetic with influences from cubism and modernism.
The symmetrical façade, decorative reliefs, and nautical-inspired details showcase the typical sophistication of the style. Listed by the IPAC, the building was also a vibrant cultural hub in Salvador, housing for many years, cinema, a casino, a nightclub, and an ice cream salon, besides hosting illustrious residents such as Gilberto Gil and Pelé.
Although art deco is strongly linked to architecture and interior design, several artists contributed to consolidating and disseminating its aesthetics in other visual languages. Painters, sculptors, and designers interpreted the style through geometric compositions, sophisticated colors, and idealized figures, often linked to luxury and modernity. Below, some essential names:
Polish painter based in France, Tamara De Lempicka is considered the great representative of art deco in the visual arts. Her work is marked by elegant feminine portraits, with well-defined traits, dramatic shadows, and stylized sensuality.
The figures she paints, generally women from high society, carry the essence of 1920s glamour, with a strong presence of geometric elements and cubism influence. Her aesthetic remains highly recognizable and revered to this day.
French designer who first stood out in art nouveau jewelry and then became an icon of art deco with his glass creations.
Lalique revolutionized the design of perfume bottles, lamps, and decorative objects by using innovative molding and polishing techniques. His pieces combine geometric shapes with stylized natural motifs, translating the luxurious and ornamental spirit of art deco with a very refined and unique language.
sculptor, designer, and master in the use of lacquer, Jean Dunand was one of the most complete artists of the movement. Of Swiss origin, naturalized French, he produced decorative panels, furniture, and vases that became synonymous with art deco elegance. His work stood out for using exotic materials like gold, ivory, and mother-of-pearl, always treated with eastern techniques reinterpreted through a modern lens. His works are part of various collections and palaces of the time.
Considered one of the greatest furniture designers of the art deco style, Ruhlmann brought sophistication and technical precision to his creations. His pieces were made with noble woods, lacquers, marble, and fine metals, often with subtle curved shapes and impeccable finishing. For Ruhlmann, a piece of furniture should be as elegant as a jewel, and his work helped establish the standard of luxury of art deco in high-end homes and hotels.
Cassandre was a Ukrainian-French graphic designer who stood out for his advertising posters with a strong art deco identity. His creations mixed bold typography, symmetrical composition, and futuristic elements, promoting products and services with great visual impact. One of his most famous works is the poster for the ocean liner Normandie, which became an icon of golden age graphic design advertising.
The art deco aesthetic also found fertile ground in cinema to manifest itself, whether in settings, costumes, or art direction. Several films, especially those depicting the 1920s to 1940s, use typical elements of the style to compose luxurious, sophisticated, and visually impactful atmospheres. The use of geometric shapes, metallic palettes, mirrors, and grand interiors reinforces the art deco visual identity, transforming each scene into a design work.
Among the most representative films, "The Great Gatsby" (2013) stands out for exuberantly depicting the opulence of the 1920s, with settings filled with gold, black lacquer, crystals, and geometric patterns.
"Metropolis" (1927), a classic of German expressionist cinema, is also a reference with its futuristic architecture inspired by art deco shapes. Other examples include "Chicago" (2002), with its luxurious cabaret settings, and animations like "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992), which translates the style into a noir Gotham City full of symmetrical skyscrapers.
The art deco visual is immediately recognizable by its elegant color palettes and the use of sophisticated materials. Classic colors such as black, white, gold, silver, navy blue, emerald green, and wine tones are very common in this style.
In furniture, well-defined geometric shapes, lacquered surfaces, mirrors, metallic details, and high-gloss finishes predominate. Pieces with dark wood structures, leather, marble, or glass are typical of the deco aesthetics.
Other characteristic elements include:
Furniture with aerodynamic lines or gentle curves.
Metallic handles and details in bronze or chrome.
Patterns with geometric prints, such as zigzag, sun rays, or chevron.
Mirrors with striking and symmetrical frames.
Decorative objects inspired by ancient Egypt, Africa, or Eastern culture.
Despite being a historical movement, art deco continues to be influential and can easily be adapted to contemporary projects. In architecture, it is possible to incorporate vertical elements, symmetrical shapes, and noble materials in façades, doors, windows, and coverings.
In interior design, art deco can be present in:
Wall panels with geometric frames.
Luminaires with retro design and golden or copper finishing.
Velvet armchairs with metallic legs and rounded silhouette.
Fishbone or chevron pattern floors.
Wallpaper with graphic and elegant prints.
The combination of classic elements with modern functionality allows art deco to remain current, especially in projects that seek sophistication with personality.
This content was supported by CASACOR Publisher, an exclusive content creator agency, developed by the CASACOR technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.
