Cleopatra

Cleopatra was the one of the biggest productions of the 20th century. With a final budget of $31 million, the production nearly bankrupted the studio. The custom-designed sets by DeCuir inspire awe and create an environment of grandeur for the magnificent story of Egypt’s last queen.

Pillars of Design

Throughout his career, John DeCuir wondered why there were no schools for the art of production design. “Where’s the book?” he asked. DeCuir’s son took up the torch and created The 5 Pillars of Design to teach the next generation of designers the process of creating the narrative environment. 

Who is John DeCuir?

John DeCuir was a production designer known for his concept art and set designs. In his career, DeCuir was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won three. Nicknamed Hollywood’s DaVinci, DeCuir set the industry standard with his designs. 
 

A Life Gone By

John DeCuir Sr. created some of the most inspired artwork of Hollywood’s golden age. From his earliest films in the 1940's to later works like Ghostbusters in 1984, DeCuir's designs and artwork helped guide these classic films to completion. 

In his career, DeCuir earned 11 Oscar nominations and three awards for his work on The King and I, Cleopatra, and Hello Dolly!. The DeCuir Gallery’s purpose is to showcase his artwork and to educate future generations in Art and Production Design. Learn how to create a narrative environment by exploring his legacy.