Sculpted in Steel: An artful construction of cars and motorcycles

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The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston showcases 17 vehicles from the Art Deco era

Gallery: See highlights from "Sculpted in Steel" exhibition

CNN  — 

Imagine owning a piece of artwork that you could sit inside, and even drive. At the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Art Deco vehicles which form the “Sculpted in Steel” exhibition prove exactly that is possible – beautifully constructed, they are as much works of art as modes of transport.

Characterized by the use of luxurious materials and clean lines, the Art Deco aesthetic dominated the worlds of architecture, fashion and cars on a global scale between the first and second world wars.

The 14 cars and three motorcycles on show at the exhibition demonstrate the elegance of this era, which introduced concepts such as aerodynamic design and chrome detailing to vehicles.

Car bodies were blessed with shiny metal curves, while finer details such as grills, hood ornaments and windows were inspired by airplanes, and constructed using industrial materials.

To see highlights from the exhibition, scroll through the gallery above.

“Sculpted in Steel” will take place at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from February 21 to May 30 2016.