In this recorded webinar, art historian Kathleen Murphy Skolnik leads viewers through the classical foundations of Art Deco, using the work of American muralist Hildreth Meière as a central case study. Presented by the Institute of Classical Art and Architecture SoCal Chapter, in collaboration with the International Hildreth Meière Association (IHMA), the lecture offers a fresh look at how ancient and Renaissance sources continued to shape modern design in the twentieth century.
Watch the full webinar recording below.
Runtime: approximately 60 minutes
Featured Moments in the Lecture
00:00 – Welcome and Program Overview
02:35 – Kathleen Murphy Skolnik Introduces Meière and the Talk
05:00 – What Is Art Deco and Where the Term Comes From
09:00 – Key Art Deco Traits and Major Influences
13:15 – Classical Roots in Art Deco Design
15:10 – Meière’s Early Life and Training
21:45 – National Academy of Sciences: A Breakthrough Commission
26:05 – Nebraska State Capitol: Myth, Symbol, and Art Deco Style
34:05 – Modern America: Fairs, Federal Work, Corporate Commissions, and Radio City
49:15 – Legacy, IHMA, Archives, and Q&A
While Art Deco is often associated with modernity, speed, and innovation, this talk reveals a deeper story. Skolnik explores how designers of the period, including Meière, drew inspiration from classical mythology, Byzantine art, and Renaissance composition, translating these influences into bold, contemporary works designed for modern buildings.
Throughout her forty year career, Meière completed nearly one hundred commissions across the United States, working at a monumental scale and in close collaboration with architects. The webinar highlights several of her most recognizable projects, including the Dance, Drama, and Song roundels on the Fiftieth Street façade of Radio City Music Hall, the immersive mosaic program at the Nebraska State Capitol, and the bronze silhouette of Mercury and the winds for the Logan Square Post Office in Chicago. These works demonstrate how Meière adapted classical themes to new materials, new spaces, and a rapidly changing cultural moment.
Richly illustrated and approachable for both newcomers and longtime admirers, the lecture offers insight into how Meière balanced history and innovation, helping define the visual language of American Art Deco while remaining deeply rooted in the past.
About the Speaker
Kathleen Murphy Skolnik teaches art and architectural history at Roosevelt University in Chicago and leads seminars on architecture and design at the Newberry Library. She is co author of The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière, a contributor to Art Deco Chicago: Designing Modern America, and a past editor of the Chicago Art Deco Society Magazine. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Art Deco Society of New York and on the Board of the International Hildreth Meière Association.
This program is part of IHMA’s ongoing commitment to education and public access, sharing scholarship that brings Hildreth Meière’s work to life for broad audiences.
To explore more lectures and educational resources, visit hildrethmeiere.org
To support IHMA’s mission of inspiration, education, and preservation, visit www.hildrethmeiere.org/donate
About the International Hildreth Meière Association
Founded in 2004, the International Hildreth Meière Association (IHMA) inspires, educates, and preserves the legacy and works of artist Hildreth Meière. As the primary source for information on Meière’s life and art, IHMA has created exhibitions, publications, documentaries, tours, and lectures for the general public, educators, and the stewards of Hildreth’s commissions.
Explore more: hildrethmeiere.org
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Connect on LinkedIn: International Hildreth Meière Association
Press/collaboration inquiries: info@hildrethmeiere.org