Erté looking over Aileen Pringle. Photo: Martin Lawrence Galleries

Join fashion historian Summer Anne Lee for an immersive virtual exploration of the life and work of Erté, one of the most influential and enduring designers of the twentieth century. From his early collaboration with Paul Poiret to his rise as a leading illustrator of the Art Deco style, Erté crafted a visual language of elegance, elongation, and fantasy that captivated audiences around the world.

Tracing his career across multiple creative industries, this talk reveals how Erté shaped and reflected the Art Deco aesthetic through fashion design, illustration, and theatrical costume. Audiences will discover his brief but significant work in Hollywood, as well as his decades-long contributions to magazines, stage productions, and the dazzling world of showgirls.

Evening gown, Erté, c. 1922-1924. Photo: Rijksmuseum

With a rich visual archive, this presentation brings into focus the artistic evolution of Erté’s career—one that not only defined an era, but continues to shape how we imagine glamour, performance, and modernity today.

This is a virtual presentation on Zoom. If you cannot make the live broadcast, but have purchased a ticket before the program begins, you will be able to enjoy a recording of the presentation. You only need one ticket per household (or device). More than one person may watch in a household, on the same ticket.

TICKETS:

Members: $12 (plus fees)

General Admission: $18 (plus fees)

No refunds or exchanges. You may gift your ticket to a friend or donate it back to ADSLA.

Summer Anne Lee is a Brooklyn-based Fashion Historian and adjunct instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she received an MA in Fashion and Textile Studies. In 2025, she curated the digital exhibition, Erté: Feline Costumes for Bal Tabarin, for The Underpinnings Museum. You can follow Summer on Instagram here.