First lecture: The Art of Art Deco
100 years on: why do we still love the Art Deco Style? The Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s represented one of the most alluring and enduring of styles. We will consider the Movement’s development within its social and economic environments; the influence of the 1925 Paris Expo and will look at special examples of Art Deco as expressed in crystal, silver, jewellery, print matter, china, objets d’art, furniture, textile and ocean liners. We will also reveal some iconic Art Deco representations of civic and domestic architecture in the UK.
Second Lecture: Around the World: Iconic Art Deco Buildings
Let’s circumnavigate the world and discover where the Art Deco buildings are - Paris, Lisbon, New York, Miami, Vancover, Napier, Singapore and Mumbai. And that’s just for starters. Some of the buildings will be household names - Chrysler, Rockefeller, Empire State - but others will be new. The influence of the Art Deco Movement on the style adopted for the design of many new buildings was immense and there are very few major cities in the world that don’t boast some examples of Art Deco Architecture. We will learn about key architectural features and how architects embraced new materials that were adopted in to eye-catching geometric patterns and shapes.
Third Lecture: Erté (Romain de Tirtoff): Designs of the Art Deco Master
We will explore the work of this Russian emigré who located to Paris in 1920s and developed a significant career that spanned eight decades. From over 200 bespoke commission magazine covers for Harpers Bazaar, to 1,000s of designs for operas, the Folies Bergere, Hollywood movies of the 1920s, ballets, women’s fashion and departments stores. His work was prolific and his ‘Symphony in Black’ of 1923 is a tour de force.
Pamela has MA Hons Art History, St Andrew's University.
Over 30 years of lecturing experience to undergraduates, adult groups, and to Friends and Patrons of the Royal Academy of Arts as part of the RA’s Adult Education Department.
Also conducted numerous guided tours, residential trips and focused gallery talks on individual works of art. Specialises in British Domestic Architecture and Modern British Art - with a particular love for the 1920s and 1930s. A permanent career at Royal Academy of Arts for 12 years.
Work experience also undertaken at Bonhams, Art Loss Register and National Trust.
Now a freelance art consultant and lecturer. Recently curated a collection for the Lansdowne Club.
Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars