Frank Bros was at the forefront of modern furniture sales in the United States during the middle of the twentieth century, serving as the primary retailer for some of the most recognisable names in mid-century design including Alvar Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Van Keppel Green and Bruno Matthsson, amongst many others. As the interior designers for over half of the Case Study Houses, Frank Bros helped define a branch of modernism unique to Southern California.
This unique publication documents the history of a store that changed the way Americans responded to their domestic environment. Using pioneering methodologies and practices such as in-house exhibitions, eye-catching graphic design and a specialised sales force, Frank Bros not only promoted a re-envisioned post-war lifestyle, but also educated the public on the precepts of good design.
Covering the entire history of the store, as well as its lasting legacy, Frank Bros: The Store That Modernized Modern comprises archival material, ephemera, essays and interviews providing a rich complexion of the influence that one store in Long Beach had across an entire country.
Published in partnership with University Art Museum.
