Jed Johnson (designer)

Jed Johnson
Born	(1948-12-30)December 30, 1948 Alexandria, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	July 17, 1996(1996-07-17) (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)

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."^[1]

Johnson was initially hired to perform odd jobs at Andy Warhol's Factory in 1968. After Warhol survived an assassination attempt, Johnson moved in with him to aid in his recovery, becoming his domestic partner for 12 years.^[2] At The Factory, Johnson rose through the ranks from assisting director Paul Morrissey to directing his own film, Bad (1977). He edited several films, including Trash (1970), Heat (1972), Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), and Blood for Dracula (1974). Following Warhol's death, Johnson was a founding member of the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board.

After decorating the townhouse he lived with Warhol, Johnson began collecting antiques and eventually started a decorating business. He 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 the explosion of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.^[3]

Johnson 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."^[4] In 2005, Rizzoli published the book Jed Johnson: Opulent Restraint, Interiors, a monograph and remembrance by his twin brother Jay Johnson.