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Modern American Glamour

Potter, designer and author Jonathan Adler launched his namesake brand after leaving his day job to pursue his first love: pottery. In 1993, Barneys bought his collection of pots, and five years later, he opened his first store in Soho.

Today, we are a design company with retail locations worldwide, a thriving e-commerce site, a full slate of residential and commercial projects, and a global wholesale business. We strive to create luxe and livable interiors that are seriously designed, but don’t take themselves too seriously.

JONATHAN’S JOURNEY

From farm town New Jersey to behind the wheel in Soho, New York City.

1966

Born in farm town in New Jersey.
1978

Tries pottery at summer camp while wearing a Rush concert tee.
1980-84

Spends entire adolescence in basement of family’s modern house throwing pots.
1984-88

Allegedly studies semiotics and art history at Brown. Actually spends all his time at RISD making pots.
1989

Makes quilted line of pottery inspired by Chanel. Evil professor advises him to try a career in law.
1990

Moves to New York and starts working in the movie business.
1993

Deeply depressed from three years in the movie biz, quits. Tells parents he wants to be a potter and starts Jonathan Adler, the company—vows never to have a real job again. Parents schedule an intervention.
1994

Shows pots to Barneys and gets an order. Realizes he has to make the pots.
1997

Realizing he’s but one man, hooks up with Aid to Artisans, a non-profit organization that connects artisans in developing countries with American designers. Flies to Peru and discovers paradise—a beautiful workshop by the sea with parrots, gardens, and incredible craftsfolk. Creative explosion ensues.
1998

Opens his first store in Soho.
1999

Adopts (with his partner Simon Doonan) a Norwich terrier named Liberace who is the light of their lives.
2000

Millennium madness. Luckily Y2K has no impact on pottery wheels.
2004

Designs The Parker Palm Springs hotel. Develops raging obsession with waspy country club style—needlepoint, chinoiserie, and acid green lacquer. Concerned Jewish mother schedules another intervention.
2005

Writes first design book. Jewish mother proud, but Liberace remains aloof—he is, after all, a terrier.
2006

Turns 40. Reluctantly relinquishes ingénue status. Needlepoint obsession now less ironic.
2007

Joins the Bravo family as lead judge on Top Design. Wanders the streets in outfits borrowed from the show hoping to be recognized.
2008

Gets hitched to Simon. Liberace purchases something off-registry.
2009

Tapped to design a real life Malibu Dream House to celebrate Barbie’s 50th. Can finally make amends for decapitating sister’s Barbie in 1974.
2011

Opens first UK store. Figure destroyed by local delicacies—scones and clotted cream in London taking the brunt of the blame.
2014

Celebrates 20 years of empire building. Completes a redesign of the groovy Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa.
2016

Joins Fisher Price as Creative Director, providing a legitimate excuse to play with toys. Snuggles with his newly adopted mutt Foxylady (and occasionally Simon). The late, great Liberace smiles down from the big dog park in the sky.
2017

Finds public sculpture appealing and creates a massive 7-foot-tall, 900-pound, bronze banana at The Parker Palm Springs.
2019

Adds “honorary Swede” to identity following a wintry holiday-themed capsule collection with H&M HOME.
2020

Like the rest of the world, is forced to redefine “WFH” and lands squarely on WOWing from home.
2022

Opens Atelier Adler, a retail-meets-creative studio experience in NYC’s iconic Soho neighborhood, across from The Broken Kilometer - “my temple!” - and with pottery studio lights paying homage.
2023

Celebrating 30 years of Modern American Glamour!