Art Deco: From Paris to New York, Los Angeles & Miami
Art History Lectures presented by Diane Kane Ph.D., AICP
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Art Deco: From Paris to New York, Los Angeles & Miami
Presented by Diane Kane
Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2026
Please note the series start date is now April 9, instead of April 2.
Art Deco, a structured, geometric, and elegant aesthetic, is strongly identified with urbanism, electricity, and modernity. An extension of early 20th century Art Nouveau, it gained full expression in the 1920s before morphing into 1930s Streamlined Moderne. Deco’s refined stylized forms appealed to architects, decorators, and manufacturers, who used new exotic and synthetic materials to produce luxury products, often with limited output. Nonetheless, Art Deco embodies a vibrant era marked by a thirst for novelty, speed, exoticism, and freedom. It touched every field of creation, from architecture and transportation, to furniture, fashion, jewelry, and graphic arts. Join Architectural Historian Diane Kane for a 100th Anniversary overview of the style, highlighting Art Deco’s Jazz Age expression in America. Discover how, from its origins in Paris, uniquely local identities in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, it developed under the influence of high finance, radio, film, flappers—and cocktails!
About Diane Kane:
A specialist in 19th and 20th century American architecture and urban planning, Dr. Kane has taught Western and American art and architectural history and planning to both professional and general interest audiences for over 35 years. Institutions include the NewSchool of Architecture & Design, Design Institute of San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal Poly Pomona, UC San Diego, and UCLA Extension. Retired since 2007, she has travelled the world, visiting all 50 states and over 110 countries. This has sparked an interest in non-Western architecture and cross-cultural transference and innovation through lectures at Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning. In 2024, Dr. Kane received a SOHO Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in preservation and planning and a Jewel Award from the La Jolla Historical Society for her work on the La Jolla Park Coastal Historical District's nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS
MUSIC ROOM
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037
LECTURES BEGIN AT 7:30 PM.
DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM.
INDIVIDUAL LECTURES:
$17 member / $22 nonmember
SERIES OF 4 LECTURES:
$60 member / $80 nonmember
Online ticket sales are subject to ticketing fees.
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The lectures will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above.
These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each lecture.
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ALL SALES ARE FINAL. No refunds or exchanges. In the event of a cancellation for which there is no rescheduled date, a refund for this ticket may be issued at the option of the management.