Modernism

The broad movement in Western art, architecture and design which self-consciously rejected the past as a model for the arts of the present.

20th Century Cincinnati is the Queen City’s annual retrospective of vintage modern design: the avant-garde art, architecture, furnishings, decor and fashions that emerged between WW I and the Information Age. Fueled by new technologies, materials and popular culture, Modernist trends included Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Machine Age, Streamline, Mid-Century Modern and Op/Pop styles. Many of these innovative designs were so far ahead of their times that they seem to have anticipated 21st-century lifestyles.

Now in its third decade of annual shows, 20th Century Cincinnati will return to the Sharonville Convention Center on the weekend of February 22 and 23, 2020. Over 70 dealers will fill the 20,000 square feet Exhibit Hall & adjoining conference rooms with classic modernist forms – many from the century’s signature designers and architects.

Best known for its fantastic selection of furniture and lighting, 20th Century Cincinnati also features period decorative objects, housewares, pop culture memorabilia, and an important fashion element. From investment quality to fun & funky, 20th Century Cincinnati offers something for every collector’s budget. Shop with confidence: this knowledgeable group of dealers pledges that all merchandise is “guaranteed as represented.”

Weekend activities kick-off with a two-hour Java Preview beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Preview tickets admit patrons to the exclusive shopping period (complete with a complimentary coffee, tea and juice bar) and include a full-weekend pass. Preview ticket ordering information is available on the Java Preview page of this website.

Regular show hours on Saturday and Sunday are from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A $8 adult admission is good for both days.

Furniture and other large purchases can be taken away in your own vehicle with assistance from our experienced porters. Cincinnati’s Express Deliveries will also be on hand again in 2020 to provide professional delivery service in the Greater Cincinnati metro area.