Madonna Used A High-Back Chair Designed By Scottish Artist In Her "Express Yourself" Video

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — St. Petersburg residents and tourists will be among the first to see "Designing the New," a first-ever exhibition in the United States that introduces works from Scottish artist and architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, at the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement

Unique furniture designs, wild interior styles and original architectural designs compared to art deco created by Mackintosh were considered bold during the late 1800s were well-noticed in Europe and highly favored in Germany - in Britain, not so much.

"Fusing the sinuous forms of art nouveau with rugged Scots baronial motifs and exotic Japanese touches, their designs were a startling sight – too much for many British critics to stomach," the Guardian reported.

Mackintosh studied at Glasgow School of Art and he later was offered a project designing the school in 1896 as he worked as a junior draftsman. The project was completed in about 1899 with the building presenting an idiosyncratic design.

A Florida native, Robyne Calvert, who had a fellowship at Glasgow School of Art in 2018 told the Guardian that Mackintosh's high-back chairs live on in music videos and movies. In Madonna's "Express Yourself" video she thrusts into a high-back chair. "Blade Runner" also features Mackintosh's edgy designs.

"It presents his big, bold graphic designs for posters and his high-backed chairs for Miss Catherine Cranston’s famous Glasgow artistic tearooms, in contrast with his lesser-known but equally striking experiments in textile design, interior design, and the intricate watercolors he painted in the last years of his life," the MAACM website said.

The exhibit includes 166 works of art and design by Mackintosh. A MAACM staff member told a Patch reporter the walk-through takes about an hour if you stop and read all the details on pieces.

"Designing the New" opened Friday and displays until June 5 at MAACM, 355 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg. This is a unique, ticketed presentation. To purchase tickets, click here. Discounted member tickets are $13/adult, $12/senior, and $10/youth.

For more information about the exhibit, visit here.