Jonathan Adler

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American potter, interior decorator, and author

title: "Jonathan Adler" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-potters", "artists-from-new-jersey", "artists-from-new-york-city", "writers-from-cumberland-county,-new-jersey", "american-gay-writers", "american-gay-artists", "jewish-american-artists", "jewish-american-activists", "lgbtq-rights-activists-from-new-york-(state)", "lgbtq-american-activists", "gay-jews", "lgbtq-people-from-new-jersey", "lgbtq-people-from-new-york-(state)", "people-from-bridgeton,-new-jersey", "people-from-greenwich-village", "1966-births", "living-people"] description: "American potter, interior decorator, and author" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Adler" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American potter, interior decorator, and author ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameJonathan Adler
captionAdler with Simon Doonan (July 2015)
birth_date
birth_placeBridgeton, New Jersey, U.S.
educationBrown University
years_active1990s–present
known_forPottery, product design, commercial and residential interior decoration, furniture design
televisionTop Design judge (2007–2008)
occupationPotter, interior decorator, designer, business owner
spouse
website
::

::callout[type=note] the potter and stylist/interior decorator ::

| name = Jonathan Adler | image = | alt = | caption = Adler with Simon Doonan (July 2015) | birth_date = | birth_place = Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S. | education = Brown University | years_active = 1990s–present | known_for = Pottery, product design, commercial and residential interior decoration, furniture design | television = Top Design judge (2007–2008) | occupation = Potter, interior decorator, designer, business owner | spouse = | website =

Jonathan Adler (born August 11, 1966, in Bridgeton, New Jersey) is an American potter, interior decorator, and author. Adler launched his first ceramic collection in 1993 at Barneys New York. Five years later he expanded into home furnishings, opening his first namesake boutique in SoHo, Manhattan. He now has 9 stores and runs an eponymous home interiors business.

Early life and education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Jonathan_Adler.jpg" caption="Jonathan Adler"] ::

After growing up in Bridgeton, New Jersey, Adler discovered an interest in pottery at summer camp when he was 12 years old. This interest in pottery was further enhanced by his father's own interest in pottery as a hobby he pursued in Philadelphia, while remaining in Bridgeton to practice law for a career. When Jonathan later attended Brown University, he studied semiotics and art history, but spent most of his time at the nearby Rhode Island School of Design making pots. His RISD pottery, including Chanel inspired teapots and Sevres inspired urns, reflected his interests in pop culture, early hip hop culture, contemporary art, and fashion. His professor told him: "You have no talent, you need to leave and give up on your dreams and go become a lawyer." Adler is Jewish.

Career

After graduating, he spent three years as an assistant in the entertainment industry before returning to pottery. He said in a 2013 interview that "...every creative person, and every craftsperson, should have a naysayer to rebel against."

In 1990, Adler started teaching classes at Mud, Sweat 'n' Tears in New York City in exchange for free studio space. With those pots on hand, he cold-called the buyers from Barneys New York, received an order, and became a full-time production potter. In 1993 he founded Jonathan Adler Enterprises LLC.

He started as a production potter, producing on his own for years. He later worked with Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization that works to help artisans in developing countries by connecting them with decorators in America. While in Peru visiting pottery studios, he was inspired by South American textiles and started designing pillows, throws, and rugs inspired by the work he found there.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Jonathan_Adler_Pieces.jpg"] ::

Adler opened his first store in SoHo, Manhattan in 1998 and today his designs are sold in 30 stores and over 1,000 retailers. His designs include pots and sofas.

Adler has handled the interior decorator work of several commercial and residential projects. In 2004, he styled the Parker Palm Springs Hotel, the former Merv Griffin's Resort and Givenchy Spa property in Palm Springs, California. In 2016, he redesigned the hotel, extensively redoing the property including installing a seven-foot-tall bronze banana on the main lawn.

Other projects include 225 Rector Place, Abington House (on the High Line), multiple Related Property apartment designs and a 2015 overhaul of the rooms, hallways, and outdoor areas at Eau Palm Beach.

He speaks at home interior industry events and design-centric museums, such as IDS, IDS West, KBIS, and the Mint Museum. He has appeared as a guest on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and several other national programs.

On February 28, 2020, Jonathan Adler announced that he would be designing cabanas for the DreamWorks Water Park located at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the waterpark opened on October 1, 2020, but the cabanas opened on December 9, 2020.

In 2022, Adler hosted an interior design instructional series produced by Wondrium.

On January 8, 2025, it was announced that the Jonathan Adler brand had been acquired by private equity firm Consortium Brand Partners. The sale was reported to have closed on Dec. 23, 2024.

Design philosophy

In a 2015 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Adler described his design philosophy as “modern American glamour and eccentricity”, emphasizing that he believes “everyone deserves a soupçon of glamour in every bit of their home”. He discussed the recurring themes in his work, including mid-century modern influences blended with humor and bold color. Adler also highlighted projects such as his renovation of Le Parker Méridien Palm Springs, where he infused a sense of “swinging style” and vintage sophistication. He credited designers like Alexander Girard as major inspirations, praising their ability to create design that is “personal and chic at the same time”.

Personal life

In September 2008, Adler married his partner, Simon Doonan, in California. Doonan and Adler live in an apartment in Greenwich Village, and a house on Shelter Island.

Adler first publicly expressed his support for same-sex marriage in 2009, and works with various organizations to support LGBT rights. Both he and Doonan have filmed videos for Dan Savage's "It Gets Better Project".

Published works

  • My Prescription for Anti-depressive Living, 2005, New York: HarperCollins,
  • Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Accessorizing, 2010, New York: Sterling Publishing,
  • Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors, 2010, New York: Sterling Publishing,
  • 100 Ways to Happy Chic Your Life, 2012, York: Sterling Publishing,

Filmography

  • 2007: Top Design season 1, Bravo network, judge for all ten episodes
  • 2008: Top Design season 2, Bravo network, judge for all ten episodes
  • 2021: Design Star: Next Gen season 1, HGTV, judge for all six episodes

References

References

  1. (September 19, 2008). "Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler". The New York Times.
  2. Colman, David. (2012-12-08). "His Guiding Light? Mom, of Course". The New York Times.
  3. (May 27, 2016). "The Business: Jonathan Adler". telegraph.co.uk.
  4. (September 16, 2016). "The Chosen Ones: An Interview With Jonathan Adler - Tablet Magazine".
  5. (January 10, 2020). "Heart of Clay – This is Jonathan Adler".
  6. "An Interview With Jonathan Adler - Etsy Blog". etsy.com.
  7. Edelson, Sharon. (June 1, 2018). "Jonathan Adler Reunited With Barneys, and It Feels So Good".
  8. "Jonathan Adler".
  9. "Jonathan Adler {{!}} Washington DC".
  10. "Our Furniture Story - Modern Design & Craftsmanship - Jonathan Adler". jonathanadler.com.
  11. "How the Parker put Palm Springs back on the map". desertsun.com.
  12. Wogan, John. (November 4, 2016). "A Very Jonathan Adler Hotel". The New York Times.
  13. "Abington House - Property Features - Related Rentals". relatedrentals.com.
  14. Sachs, Andrea. (August 18, 2015). "What's in store for you at the Eau Palm Beach? A night with Jonathan Adler.". The Washington Post.
  15. Coston, Daniel. "6 Questions for Jonathan Adler".
  16. Mariani, Valentina. (November 20, 2018). "Jonathan Adler Talks Drive, Dreams, and Design in a Special Interview".
  17. (February 28, 2020). "DreamWorks Animation Water Park to open in March 2020".
  18. NJ.com, Allison Pries {{!}} NJ Advance Media for. (March 8, 2020). "I was the first person inside American Dream's water park. Here's what it's like.".
  19. NJ.com, Allison Pries {{!}} NJ Advance Media for. (October 1, 2020). "American Dream mega-mall reopens Thursday. What to know about stores, parking, water park.".
  20. NJ.com, Allison Pries {{!}} NJ Advance Media for. (October 1, 2020). "The DreamWorks Water Park is finally opening at American Dream. Here's what you should know before you go.".
  21. Schneider, Michael. (October 4, 2021). "Jonathan Adler to Host Interior Design Instructional Series for Wondrium".
  22. "Exclusive | Home-Decor Brand Jonathan Adler Sold to Owner of Reese Witherspoon's Fashion Company".
  23. "Jonathan Adler Joins Reese Witherspoon in CBP's Lifestyle Stable".
  24. Lasky, Julie. (2015-09-28). "Designer Jonathan Adler on Awesome Architecture and Awful Hair". Wall Street Journal.
  25. (August 31, 2015). "Inside Jonathan Adler's Duplex, an Ever-Changing Creative Lab Packed With His Own Creations". adweek.com.
  26. (June 8, 2009). "Gay rights a key concern for Jonathan Adler". Blogs.reuters.com.
  27. Firshein, Sarah. (January 13, 2012). "Jonathan Adler Joins the "It Gets Better" LGBT Movement".
  28. "Jonathan Adler".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

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