Erté. Style is Everything

Erté at the Masone Labyrinth

The Masone Labyrinth in Fontanellato, in the heart of the Parma plain in Emilia-Romagna, hosts the major spring exhibition "Erté. Style is Everything", dedicated to Romain de Tirtoff (1892-1990), known worldwide by the pseudonym Erté. Russian by birth and Parisian by adoption, Erté was one of the most refined interpreters of Art Déco: a fashion designer, costume designer, illustrator, and graphic artist, he spanned the 20th century, establishing an elegant, sinuous, and immediately recognizable style.

Over 150 Works

The exhibition brings together over 150 works, including drawings, sketches, pochoirs, lithographs, vintage photographs, documents, and film materials. The heart of the exhibition features the famous Alphabet and Numbers series, where each letter and number becomes a stylized female figure, true icons of Art Déco taste. The works come from the collection of Franco Maria Ricci, from private Italian and international collections, and on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Exhibition Sections

The layout guides the visitor through thematic sections that explore the main areas of Erté's work:

• Fashion sketches and collaborations with major fashion houses;
• Theatre and Music Hall, with famous costumes for Parisian revues;
• Editorial collaborations, particularly covers for Harper's Bazaar;
• The iconic Alphabet and Numbers series.

The exhibition dialogues with the permanent collection of the Labyrinth, one of Italy's most surprising, and also features a contemporary intervention: three original paper dresses created by artist Caterina Crepax, inspired by Erté's drawings.

The Labyrinth of Franco Maria Ricci

The venue is one of the most fascinating places in the Municipality of Fontanellato, in the province of Parma: the Masone Labyrinth, the world's largest bamboo labyrinth, designed by publisher and bibliophile Franco Maria Ricci. In addition to the green maze, the complex includes a museum, a library, and exhibition spaces, set within a park that provides an ideal backdrop for the refinement of Erté's works.

Ora d'Arte and the Evening Series

The exhibition was preceded by the "Ora d'Arte 2026" series, four evening events (from February 20th to March 20th) that transformed the museum into a contemporary salon dedicated to the 1920s and 1930s, with talks on fashion, theatre, graphics, and music, and an aperitif curated by the Labyrinth's Bistrò. A preparatory journey leading up to the opening of the major Art Déco exhibition.