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Collection by Aaron Britt

LACMA: California Design

As you might imagine, we inveterate modernists up here at Dwell are very, very excited for what will be one of the fall's best forays into modern design. On October 1, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is launching California Design 1930-1965: "Living in a Modern Way" which takes a good long look at how Californian design in the middle of the 20th century helped shape American material culture. I'm so thrilled to be talking with two of the shows curators Bobbye Tigerman and Wendy Kaplan at Dwell on Design on Friday June 24th to learn more about their research. But here's a sneak preview of 13 of the over 300 objects that will make up the show. Click on!

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Dan Johnson's 1947 desk is a perfect example of how American modernism often split the difference between clean forms and the speedy streamlining of the era.
Dan Johnson's 1947 desk is a perfect example of how American modernism often split the difference between clean forms and the speedy streamlining of the era.
Mary Anne DeWeese designed this pair of bathing suits (a bikini for her, trunks and a t-shirt for him) for the Catalina Sportswear company in 1949. The lobster motif may evoke Maine, but it's hard to imagine too many bathing beauties on the rocky shores of South Portland.
Mary Anne DeWeese designed this pair of bathing suits (a bikini for her, trunks and a t-shirt for him) for the Catalina Sportswear company in 1949. The lobster motif may evoke Maine, but it's hard to imagine too many bathing beauties on the rocky shores of South Portland.
Kem Weber's 1939 desk and chair were shown at the Golden Gate International Exhibition in San Francisco in 1939.
Kem Weber's 1939 desk and chair were shown at the Golden Gate International Exhibition in San Francisco in 1939.
4X5 orig
4X5 orig
This iron and aluminum lamp by Greta Magnusson Grossman was manufactured in Burbank in the early 1950s by the Ralph O. Smith Manufacturing Company.
This iron and aluminum lamp by Greta Magnusson Grossman was manufactured in Burbank in the early 1950s by the Ralph O. Smith Manufacturing Company.
This album cover gets both the beachy vibe that California came to represent as well as the clan typographic treatment that marked so many great jazz albums of the 1950s. Robert Guidi designed this 1955 album.
This album cover gets both the beachy vibe that California came to represent as well as the clan typographic treatment that marked so many great jazz albums of the 1950s. Robert Guidi designed this 1955 album.
One of the great undersung disseminators of modernism was draftsman, illustrator, and renderer Carlos Diniz. This drawing of a home in Monarch Bay by Ladd and Kelsey Architects in Laguna Nigel is classic Diniz and is as good an ad for California at the start of the 1960s as anything.
One of the great undersung disseminators of modernism was draftsman, illustrator, and renderer Carlos Diniz. This drawing of a home in Monarch Bay by Ladd and Kelsey Architects in Laguna Nigel is classic Diniz and is as good an ad for California at the start of the 1960s as anything.
Byron Wilson's silver, ebony, and ivory necklace from 1956 shows how modern design worked its way into jewelery as well.
Byron Wilson's silver, ebony, and ivory necklace from 1956 shows how modern design worked its way into jewelery as well.
Arline Fisch's 1962 peacock necklace is a lovely bit of mid-century design.
Arline Fisch's 1962 peacock necklace is a lovely bit of mid-century design.
Margaret De Patta's highly abstract brooch in silver and quartz hails from the late 40s or 50s.
Margaret De Patta's highly abstract brooch in silver and quartz hails from the late 40s or 50s.
This textile design in rayon and cotton by Hungarian Paul Laszlo comes from his European Group collection from 1954 or before.
This textile design in rayon and cotton by Hungarian Paul Laszlo comes from his European Group collection from 1954 or before.
Bold dots and a matching jacket make this swimsuit by Margit Fellegi from about 1950 a poolside stunner. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!
Bold dots and a matching jacket make this swimsuit by Margit Fellegi from about 1950 a poolside stunner. Don't miss a word of Dwell! Download our FREE app from iTunes, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter!