Jed Johnson (designer)
Jed Johnson (December 30, 1948 – July 17, 1996) was an American interior designer and film director. The New York Times hailed Johnson as "one of the most celebrated interior designers of our time."
Jed Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 30, 1948 Alexandria, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 1996 (aged 47) TWA Flight 800, East Moriches, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, designer |
| Partner(s) | Andy Warhol (1968–1980) Alan Wanzenberg (1980–1996) |
| Relatives | Jay Johnson (brother) |
Initially hired to sweep floors at artist Andy Warhol's Factory, Johnson moved in with Warhol after he was shot to help him recuperate, and they subsequently had a romantic relationship for 12 years. Johnson rose through the ranks at The Factory from assisting director Paul Morrissey to directing a film on his own. He edited several films, including Trash (1970), Heat (1972), and Blood for Dracula (1974), and he directed the film Bad (1977) before starting a decorating business. Johnson was a member of the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board following Warhol's death.
Johnson was known for his signature American Empire style when decorating. His clients included Mick Jagger, Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent, and Barbra Streisand. Johnson had become one of the most acclaimed interior designers when he was killed in a plane crash aboard TWA Flight 800 in 1996. He was posthumously inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame and Architectural Digest named him as one of "The World's 20 Greatest Designers of All Time." In 2005, Rizzoli published the book Jed Johnson: Opulent Restraint, a monograph and remembrance by his twin brother Jay Johnson.