Hildreth Meière (1892-1961) was one of the most important architectural designers of the early 20th century, and made her reputation with large-scale murals in a pronounced Art Deco style.
Born in Flushing, Queens, New York City, Meière was influenced in her artistic career by a year of study in Florence, where she received training and developed a passion for the expression of beauty that later found its way into her work. Byzantine golden mosaics were one of her most noticeable influences, and can be seen in the “Red Room” of the Printemps building re-opened to the public in 2025. Now an upscale shoe store attached to an exquisite cocktail bar, the Red Room was originally designed as the entryway for Irving Trust Bank in 1931. The mosaic murals that encrust every space are done in red, orange, and gold, with the deepest shades of red at the ground layer and lightening up with the height of the enormous ceilings. Each tile was made in Germany and printed with a specific number so that it could be properly reassembled for the space.
Known for many other Art Deco style murals, such as the ones adorning the Nebraska State Capitol, the 18 foot high medallions on Radio City Music Hall in NYC, and the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis, in St Louis Missouri, Meière’s works helped define the Art Deco style of her time.
Sources: Biography of Hildreth Meière – International Hildreth Meière Association Inc. https://share.google/wdGUxcUauSBpgMIjH; International Hildreth Meière Association Inc. https://share.google/eMgqBHss6PMVA9wi2; The History of the Dazzling Red Room at Printemps – Downtown Alliance https://share.google/BqxpPD2aUZxiFEgxA
