Abstract

      Viktor Schreckengost is one of the twentieth century’s most important designers. In addition to his more exclusive productions, most notably the Jazz Bowl, his creations included countless recognizable household and industrial objects from dinnerware to Murray bikes and lawnmowers. Schreckengost was not only one of the many artists who helped define the modern cultural landscape, but he also shaped our living environment. This lecture will look at Schreckengost’s career in the decorative arts and design and explore how his work influenced generations of Americans and helped to improve the way in which we lived.

Biography: Brandy Culp

      Brandy S. Culp is currently the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow in the Department of American Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. She has also worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art researching the exhibition, Art and the Empire City, New York, 1825-1861. Ms. Culp received her Master of Arts degree in the decorative arts from the Bard Graduate Center, where she focused on American art. She has a great interest in material culture and design, and she has worked diligently to research and interpret the Art Institute’s early twentieth-century collection.