Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980
Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980
Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980 is the
first exhibition to examine the extensive design exchanges between the
United States and the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, and Sweden) during the 20th century. Serving as a corrective to
the dominant narrative of central European émigrés shaping modern
American design culture, the exhibition will present a new international
story, featuring accounts of Scandinavian designers who immigrated to
the United States; Americans who studied or worked in Nordic countries;
the ambitious campaigns to market and export Scandinavian design to
American consumers; and the American and Nordic figures who championed
sustainable and accessible design practice. Many of the issues
considered in the exhibition remain relevant today, including the
contributions of immigrants to their adopted societies, the importance
of international exchange, critical analysis of cultural myths, and
concern about environmental sustainability and accessibility.
