above: (left) Michael Williams, (right) Jonathan Adler and Mattel icon, Barbie
Photographer Michael Williams loves Barbie. And clearly, designer Jonathan Adler. In a stunning tribute to both, this Brooklyn based graphic designer/photographer has created amazing dioramas using miniatures from RE-MENT and MegaHouse as the props to recreat Adler-esque interiors for Barbie, Ken and their friends.
the above image features Michael's version of Ken as Jonathan Adler.
Dining & Living Room Furniture by Randall Craig Home; Cream-colored custom sofa cushions by Karen Kolkman of Kolkman Kreations
in Michael's own words:
"This presentation gets its name from my September 2007 HAUTE DOLL Magazine feature on diorama dollhouse furnishings, and it serves as a laudatory hommage to Bravo TOP DESIGN guru Jonathan Adler (age 41), who first fell in love with ceramics at age 12 in summer camp, but took a brief detour in the movie business before launching his initial line of pottery at Barney's in 1994. The line was an instant success, and in 1998 he opened his first store in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, which has since been followed by several boutiques across the country, as he expanded his line into a glamorous new furniture collection, along with bedding, towels, and pillows (some of which are licensed and carried by Bed, Bath and Beyond and department stores). He even redesigned the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Palm Springs, now a hot resort vacation destination."
Whether or not the fact that Jonathan Adler is actually designing a line of furniture for Barbie in celebration of her 50th Anniversary is a coincidence or not, I'm not certain. (Yes, it turns out he did design some furniture an accessories- editor)
above: Adler sketch for upcoming Barbie collection, courtesy of Mattel.
The Mattel icon, Barbie, who turns 50 years-old this year, is moving to Malibu and none other than Top Design judge Jonathan Adler is shaping the interiors. The interior design star will be updating Barbie’s bedroom, living room, and, of course, her drool-worthy closet, in an actual Malibu beach house, which will serve as the backdrop to the doll’s 50th blowout bash on March 9. And for those of us who still love playing house, Barbie and Adler will be launching a “Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie” collection in the fall of 2009, including designer pottery, pillows, decorative objects. Don’t forget the Jonathan Adler-designed Barbie that comes with her own matching furniture.
Above: designer Jonathan Adler
from the press release:
Partners marketing Barbie-branded products for the anniversary tapped Adler to design items for Barbie's Malibu Dream House where the partners will unveil a reinterpretation of the 1959 doll on Barbie's birthday and throw a “celebrity pink carpet party.”
Since we have yet to see any actual pieces from Adler's collection for Barbie, feast your eyes on Michael's amazing Barbie/Adler dioramas:
Michael a photographer and graphic designer whose personal work focuses on collectible 1:6 scale fashion dolls, including Barbie, Ken, Fashion Royalty, FR Nippon Misaki and R&D Susie, as well as dioramas and dollhouses, who hordes RE-MENT and MegaHouse miniatures as props for my photos.
See more of Michael's work at his site here.
And on HauteDoll.com for whom he shoots.
Barbie's 50th celebration has been an ongoing funfest.
From the Bloomies Barbie in-store displays and items (and Robert Best signing) to life sized Barbie's clad in designer fashions on the runway at the Mercedes Benz Fashion week in NY to co-branded items Like Stila Loves Barbie cosmetics and more upcoming collaborations, the fashion fun never ends.
Celebrate 50 Years Of Barbie here
Update:
The Jonathan Adler Barbie doll has been released:
buy it here.
and some of his furniture for Barbie:
buy the Jonathan Adler barbie accessories here.