Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Events
The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles hosts events that celebrate the art, culture and architecture of the Art Deco era (roughly defined as 1920 – 1949). More specifically, past events have included vintage dances with live period authentic music, illustrated presentations on historical topics such as fashion, film history, architecture, design and dance and other cultural topics, author talks, docent-led museum experiences and walking tours of Art Deco architecture, plus dress-up social events, to mention a few of our popular activities. If you have an event to suggest or would like to participate in making an event happen, please contact us at artdeco@adsla.org.
In the 1930s, countless Hollywood movies glittered with Deco sets, props, and costumes. Film audiences worldwide tended to assume that Los Angeles had been wedded to Art Deco since the style’s grand 1925 debut in Paris -- but they were mistaken. The road was slower, and the story behind it was lost and deliberately obfuscated. Creative genius, egotism, astonishing projects both open and hidden, and a self-aggrandizing lie which nearly buried it all for 80 years…this is how French Art Deco in its first, golden age, truly arrived in the City of the Angels.
Join the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles for no-host cocktails at The Wolves in the 1906 John Parkinson designed Alexandria Hotel, once the most extravagant hotel in the city (it cost a whopping $2 million to build) and popular with the silent film stars of the day. The Wolves is a Belle Époque style bar with Parisienne flair. Cocktails feature a lot of house-made ingredients and the food blends French and American cuisine. Some participants dress in cocktail or vintage attire, but it is not required. No RSVP necessary.
What's better than making fabulous vintage inspired garments and accessories? Making them with the support of kindred spirits!
Introducing our monthly Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Makers Group, drop-in online socials. They are open to all members. Even if you don’t have a project to share, drop in and get inspired.
We're calling these virtual meetups “Snugs.” They are an opportunity to visit with our talented members - to share our creativity and offer peer support in working through challenges with our projects.
The Martin Lawrence Galleries in South Coast Plaza offers a special late afternoon opportunity to discover the elegance and extravagance of the work of Art Deco era artist Erté. Join us to indulge in the art work and raise a glass to toast the 50th anniversary of the gallery that owns the Erté estate.
Step into a world where glamour was portable, craftsmanship was exquisite, and beauty lived inside objects meant to be touched, carried, and treasured.
Join beauty historian, celebrity makeup artist, former beauty editor, and product developer Hillary Clark-Mina for an immersive, salon-style evening devoted to the art, history, and romance of vintage makeup—from the late 1910s through the 1950s.
We’re off to visit the 1927 Greystone Mansion, a 46,000 square foot, $3.1 million Gordon B. Kaufmann designed estate with panoramic views stretching from downtown to the Pacific Ocean, hand carved oak balustrades and rafters, five chimneys each designed and crafted by a different artist, a movie theatre, a bowling alley and a hidden prohibition era bar. And did we mention that the Doheny’s Hearst Castle of Southern California is also associated with an unsolved murder-suicide and scandal?
The Avalon Ball, now in its 23rd year, is a fantastic journey into the past when Big Bands played for huge audiences via nationwide broadcasts from the 1929 Art Deco Casino Ballroom in the city of Avalon on Catalina Island. With the Avalon Ball Orchestra. Come for the evening or spend the weekend. See the FAQ button to learn more about the event and to see prices.