A new ‘expansive’ exhibition is to explore the influence of the Art Deco style in Scotland during the inter-war period.
Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age is an exhibition of images, ephemera, a film and textual interpretation across nine themes through which the Art Deco style appeared in 1930s Scotland.
The exhibition, which will run in the Reid Gallery Corridor at The Glasgow School of Art, is part of Glasgow 850, a year-long citywide programme of exhibitions, festivals and events celebrating Glasgow’s 850th anniversary.
The exhibition accompanies a major new book of the same title, written by Bruce Peter, Professor of Design History at The Glasgow School of Art, and published by Historic Environment Scotland, which will be launched at a special preview event on Friday, April 4.
Nardini’s in Largs (Image: Bruce Peter) The exhibition and book are Scotland’s contributions to an international celebration in 2025 of the centenary of the staging in Paris of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, a great exhibition of modern decorative arts that much later gave the Art Deco style its name.
In Scotland, during the inter-war years, Art Deco spread widely and was applied in many different settings; from fashionable new villas and hotels to everyday spaces such as shops, lidos, tramcars, cafes and cinemas. Indeed, some of Britain’s most remarkable design achievements in the style were north of the border; for example the building of the trans-Atlantic liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth by the John Brown and Company shipyard at Clydebank, and the staging of the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park between May and December 1938.
The exhibition comprises a general introduction to contextualise the subject, followed by sections about Housing and Furnishing, Governmental and Municipal buildings, Transport, The Empire Exhibition of 1938, Retail and Commercial buildings and spaces, Hospitality and Catering, Entertainment, Industry and Engineering and Ocean Liner Interiors. An animated, photo-real 3D model of The Empire Exhibition, created by The Glasgow School of Art’s School of Simulation and Visualisation’s will also be on display at the exhibition.
By referring to original source material, much of which is drawn from Professor Peter’s own research collection, it has been possible to bring forth new perspectives and emphasise the involvement of designers and architects whose outputs have hitherto been under-appreciated. Looking through the many examples of works on display, visitors can appreciate that, despite the many challenges of the era, Scotland achieved a great deal during the 1930s.
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Bruce Peter, Professor of Design History at The Glasgow School of Art, said: “It has been fascinating to discover how much Art Deco appeared in 1930s Scotland and how widely it was spread. Readers of the book and visitors to the exhibition will be amazed by the quality, quantity and elegance of the style’s manifestations here in the inter-war years.
James McNaught, Associate Director at Lyon & Turnbull, added: “Lyon & Turnbull are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with The Glasgow School of Art and celebrated academic and Professor of Design History, Professor Bruce Peter for his new publication and accompanying exhibition.
“2025 marks the centenary since Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes was held in Paris. o celebrate, internationally renowned Design specialist Joy McCall will launch ‘1925: Celebrating Art Deco’ on 26th June 2025, a specialist auction to be sold in London”.
Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age runs in the Reid Gallery Corridor at The Glasgow School of Art from April 5 to 28.
