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Sarasota Art Museum presents an inspiring lineup of great writers with great stories to tell through its annual author series. Hear directly from authors, artists, and contemporary creatives who are sparking new ways of thinking about art, culture, and creative practices. For those who appreciate remarkable creativity, a pioneering spirit, or are in search of inspiration, we invite you to join us and become quotable.
Jared Goss is an independent scholar and former associate curator in the department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Following the talk, Goss will sign copies of his book The Birth of Art Deco: Ruhlmann and the Hôtel du Collectionneur, 1925, available for purchase in the Museum’s SHOP.
About the Book
This book celebrates the 1925 Paris Exposition—at its centenary—a landmark event that shaped twentieth-century design and gave its name to Art Deco. The exposition dazzled over sixteen million visitors during its run, showcasing the pinnacle of French luxury goods and design innovation.
Renowned as the preeminent exponent of French Art Deco, Ruhlmann (1879–1933) was recognized for the aesthetic refinement, luxurious materials, and impeccable craftsmanship of his creations. Inspired by eighteenth-century pleasure pavilions, Ruhlmann’s pavilion, L’Hôtel du Collectionneur (The Town House of the Collector), was one of the most admired exhibits at the fair. Conceived as a modern-day Trianon, it was filled with his own sumptuous furnishings together with a meticulous selection of objets d’art by his contemporaries, including Edgar Brandt, Jean Dunand, and Jean Puiforcat.
Central to this publication is a facsimile of the original catalogue documenting the pavilion. The book offers a detailed examination of the pavilion’s architecture and interiors, revealing how Ruhlmann’s vision set standards for luxury and taste in the interwar period. Although the pavilion existed for only six months, it left a lasting legacy as one of the most refined examples of Art Deco, embodying both the opulence and the innovative spirit of the era.
