Jonathan Adler

Jonathan’s mission: to bring Modern American Glamour to your life. How? By creating a foundation of timelessly chic furniture and accessorizing with abandon.

It all started with pottery. Jonathan first gave the wheel a spin at summer camp when he was 12 years old. He was obsessed with clay the moment he touched it, and the rest of his summer was spent in a clay-spattered Rush concert tee. Clay clay clay.

In college at Brown University he allegedly studied semiotics and art history…but he spent most of his time at the nearby Rhode Island School of Design making pots. His RISD pottery—Chanel inspired teapots and updated takes on Sevres urns—reflected his interests in pop culture, early hip hop bling, contemporary art, and fashion. Unfortunately, his professor encouraged him thusly: "You have no talent. Move to New York and become a lawyer."

He followed through on the first part and spent three years assisting various tyrants in the entertainment industry before realizing his pottery teacher’s approval meant nothing.

Jonathan started teaching classes at Mud, Sweat 'n' Tears in New York City in exchange for free studio space. Then he cold-called the buyers from Barneys New York and subsequently spent his pretty years as a production potter—rollerblading to the studio at 6 am, making a hundred mugs, and coming home to fall asleep. Wedge, glaze, pack, and ship: He did it all.

Eventually he partnered with Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization devoted to helping artisans in developing countries by connecting them with designers in America. While in Peru, he fell in love with South American textiles and started designing pillows, throws, and rugs. He fused his modern sensibility with the soulful handcrafted work of the people of Peru.

Jonathan opened his first store in Soho in 1998, and soon saw his design desire expand. A few innocent throw pillows evolved into designing sofas to designing the side tables that flanked them, then the lamps to light it all up…and so on. Beyond products, he designs the very hotels, restaurants, and homes in which they sit. All fueled by Jonathan’s wide-ranging interests (Mid-Century Modern design, Brancusi's mix of guts and elegance, Pop Art, global pop culture, fierce femmes, luxe lifestyles) and still grounded by his potter DNA. Jonathan’s office sits in between a giant kiln and a working pottery studio. Our sprawling headquarters occupy a full floor in Soho—we call it the Fantasy Factory (a nod to Warhol's Factory).

Today, Jonathan’s work spans myriad of categories, from the tiniest pots to the swankiest sofas. In less than 20 years he’s opened nearly 30 stores. His favorite motto, “If your heirs won’t fight over it, we won’t make it,” reflects his continued commitment to impeccable craftsmanship and irreverent luxury. And his current flagship store? It sits across the street from that little store with a dream from 1998.