A century after the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris celebrates the legacy and relevance of Art Deco with the exhibition 1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco. Presented through a chronological and thematic journey of more than a thousand works, the show traces the birth, rise, evolution, and contemporary reinterpretations of one of the most iconic styles of the twentieth century.
Emerging in the 1910s as an extension of Art Nouveau, Art Deco came into its own in the 1920s as a language defined by geometric precision, refined materials, and a balance between craftsmanship and industry. Though initially aimed at an elite clientele, it profoundly shaped every field of creation—from furniture, fashion, and graphic design to architecture, jewelry, and even transport design. From the beginning, the MAD played a central role in promoting the movement, hosting exhibitions by the Société des Artistes Décorateurs and building an exceptional permanent collection that continues to reflect the richness of the style.
At the center of the exhibition is a dialogue between past and present. Visitors encounter iconic pieces such as André Groult’s shagreen chest of drawers, the refined creations of Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann, and the library-writing desk designed by Pierre Chareau for the French Pavilion at the 1925 Exposition, here presented in a full reconstruction. Alongside these celebrated works are lesser-known but equally significant pieces: the vibrant geometries of Sonia Delaunay, the restrained functionality of Jean-Michel Frank, the technical finesse of Clément Mère and Albert-Armand Rateau, and a selection of exquisitely crafted objects by Eileen Gray. Together, they convey the diversity of expression within Art Deco, avoiding simplifications or rigid hierarchies.
A dedicated section explores drawing as a design tool, with sketches and studies displayed alongside finished objects to reveal the creative process behind furniture, textiles, and interiors. Graphic and decorative production also takes prominence, featuring Jean Dunand’s lacquerwork, François Décorchemont’s glass, and examples of marquetry and ceramics. Jewelry occupies a central role through a collaboration with Cartier, which has loaned more than eighty pieces—necklaces, tiaras, boxes, watches, and drawings that exemplify the brand’s geometric and symbolic luxury of the 1920s and 1930s.
Fashion is represented through garments, accessories, and sketches: Madeleine Vionnet’s celebrated robe aux petits chevaux, a jacket by Sonia Delaunay, and a cloak by Marguerite Pangon, along with designs for textiles and window displays. Here too, Art Deco emerges as a total style, one that brought together elegance and utility, ornament and formal clarity.
One of the exhibition’s most striking sections is devoted to the legend of the Orient Express, a symbol of modern travel and French savoir-faire. In the museum’s central nave, full-scale reconstructions of the train’s interiors are displayed alongside an original 1926 carriage from the MAD’s collection. The contemporary project for the new Orient Express, directed by Maxime d’Angeac, is presented as a current reinterpretation of the style, combining fine craftsmanship, technological innovation, and luxury design.
The exhibition concludes with a look at the Art Deco revival that began in the 1970s, marked by the exhibition Les Années 25 and the renewed interest of figures such as Yves Saint Laurent and Jacques Grange. This closing section underlines how Art Deco remains an active source of inspiration rather than a closed chapter in design history.
Exhibition title: 1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco
Venue: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
Dates: October 21, 2025 – April 26, 2026
Curators: Sylvie Lécallier, Emmanuel Berard
Exhibition design: Jacques Grange
Website: madparis.fr
