By the 1980s, European and American nightclubs were increasingly centered around fashion and performance. Singer and model Grace Jones often performed at venues like New York's Area (where she is pictured, below, in 1984).
By the 1980s, European and American nightclubs were increasingly centered around fashion and performance. Singer and model Grace Jones often performed at venues like New York's Area (where she is pictured, below, in 1984).
Volker Hinz
Known as Paris' answer to Studio 54, Les Bains Douches was famous for having baths for merrymakers to cool off in.
Known as Paris' answer to Studio 54, Les Bains Douches was famous for having baths for merrymakers to cool off in.
Foc Kan
Short-lived London club Taboo, broke with the norms of the UK's nightlife scene with its diverse, "polysexual" clientele. Founder Leigh Bowery (right) is pictured here in 1985 alongside his future wife Nicola Bateman and club performer Trojan.
Short-lived London club Taboo, broke with the norms of the UK's nightlife scene with its diverse, "polysexual" clientele. Founder Leigh Bowery (right) is pictured here in 1985 alongside his future wife Nicola Bateman and club performer Trojan.
Dave Swindells
A photo from Chinese photographer Chen Wei's series, "In the Waves." While the "Night Fever" exhibition primary focuses on nightclubs in western Europe and North America, the curators also consider the emergence of club culture in other parts of the world.
A photo from Chinese photographer Chen Wei's series, "In the Waves." While the "Night Fever" exhibition primary focuses on nightclubs in western Europe and North America, the curators also consider the emergence of club culture in other parts of the world.
Chen Wei / Leo Xu Projects
Despacio, a sound system designed by musician James Murphy for the Manchester International Festival in 2013.
Despacio, a sound system designed by musician James Murphy for the Manchester International Festival in 2013.
Rod Lewis
As clubs merged art and nightlife, figures like Keith Haring collaborated with venues to create fliers, posters and interiors. Here, dancers are pictured beneath an enormous Haring mural at New York's Palladium in the mid-1980s.
As clubs merged art and nightlife, figures like Keith Haring collaborated with venues to create fliers, posters and interiors. Here, dancers are pictured beneath an enormous Haring mural at New York's Palladium in the mid-1980s.
Timothy Hursley / Garvey Simon Gallery New York
Located near the Italian city of Cuneo, Flash Back was a four-floor complex featuring a white pyramid and elements of classical architecture. The interior (pictured here in 1971) contained elevated staircases and a lit-up dance floor.
Located near the Italian city of Cuneo, Flash Back was a four-floor complex featuring a white pyramid and elements of classical architecture. The interior (pictured here in 1971) contained elevated staircases and a lit-up dance floor.
Paolo Mussat Sartor
Bamba Issa, a nightclub in northern Italy, as photographed in 1969. Created by the Gruppo UFO collective, the summer-only club opened on the grounds of a luxury hotel and was redesigned every year.
Bamba Issa, a nightclub in northern Italy, as photographed in 1969. Created by the Gruppo UFO collective, the summer-only club opened on the grounds of a luxury hotel and was redesigned every year.
Carlo Bachi / Courtesy of Gruppo UFO
A poster for Flash Back, designed by Studio65's Gianni Arnaudo. In addition to photographs, posters and fliers, the "Night Fever" exhibition features an assortment club paraphernalia and original furnishings.
A poster for Flash Back, designed by Studio65's Gianni Arnaudo. In addition to photographs, posters and fliers, the "Night Fever" exhibition features an assortment club paraphernalia and original furnishings.
Gianni Arnaudo / Studio65
The nightclub Space Electronic in Florence, Italy, opened in 1969 on the site of an old engine repair shop. Decorations included washing machine drums, refrigerator casings and a parachute hanging from the ceiling. Members of the design collective behind the project, Gruppo 9999, said they were influenced by New York's notorious Electric Circus club.
The nightclub Space Electronic in Florence, Italy, opened in 1969 on the site of an old engine repair shop. Decorations included washing machine drums, refrigerator casings and a parachute hanging from the ceiling. Members of the design collective behind the project, Gruppo 9999, said they were influenced by New York's notorious Electric Circus club.
Carlo Caldini / Gruppo 9999
Guests at the New York's legendary Studio 54 in 1979. The club was renowned not only for its celebrity clientele, but for sex, drugs and debauchery.
Guests at the New York's legendary Studio 54 in 1979. The club was renowned not only for its celebrity clientele, but for sex, drugs and debauchery.
Bill Bernstein, David Hill Gallery
The NewCastle Stage at Horst Arts & Music Festival in Belgium. Designed by the London arts collective Assemble, the three-tiered temporary structure was built from scaffolding and blue netting.
The NewCastle Stage at Horst Arts & Music Festival in Belgium. Designed by the London arts collective Assemble, the three-tiered temporary structure was built from scaffolding and blue netting.
Jeroen Verrecht
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, nightclubs began filling abandoned spaces in the city's east. Tresor, pictured here, once occupied the vaults beneath a forgotten department store.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, nightclubs began filling abandoned spaces in the city's east. Tresor, pictured here, once occupied the vaults beneath a forgotten department store.
Gustav Volker Heuss
"(Tresor) just moved in below ground," said the curator of the "Night Fever" exhibition, Jochen Eisenbrand. "There was really terrible air and no air conditioning, but it was this magical ruin ... that was in tune with the whole post-industrial techno aesthetic."
"(Tresor) just moved in below ground," said the curator of the "Night Fever" exhibition, Jochen Eisenbrand. "There was really terrible air and no air conditioning, but it was this magical ruin ... that was in tune with the whole post-industrial techno aesthetic."
Martin Eberle
Interior view of The Haçienda, one of the UK's best-known clubs. Established in Manchester during the city's cultural revival of the late 1980s and 90s (the so-called "Manchester" years), the club was built on the site of a former yacht showroom and retained some of the original brickwork and fittings.
Interior view of The Haçienda, one of the UK's best-known clubs. Established in Manchester during the city's cultural revival of the late 1980s and 90s (the so-called "Manchester" years), the club was built on the site of a former yacht showroom and retained some of the original brickwork and fittings.
Courtesy of Ben Kelly