Draft:Douglas Funkhouser
American textile designer and artist
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Douglas Funkhouser is an American fine artist and textile designer based in Los Angeles. He is known for his hand-printed textiles and work in the decorative arts and interior design industries. He is the founder of the textile line le gracieux.[1]
Submission declined on 3 July 2026 by HitroMilanese (talk).
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Comment: Does not appear to meet WP:GNG or WP:NARTIST. Hitro talk 08:53, 3 July 2026 (UTC)
Douglas Funkhouser | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Textile designer, fine artist |
| Known for | Founder of le gracieux |
Early life and education
Funkhouser grew up on the Upper East Side of New York City and later moved to Connecticut. His father worked as a Madison Avenue art director, and his mother was a fashion illustrator and photographer.[2]
He began painting at an early age under the tutelage of Japanese acrylic painter Noriko Yamamoto. Funkhouser attended the Studio and Forum of Stage Design in Greenwich Village, directed by scenic designer Lester Polakov, where he trained in set design and scenic art.[3]
He gained entry into the United Scenic Artists Union Local 829 in 1983 and began working in theatrical production.[4]
Scenic and commercial work
In 1985, Funkhouser established a business producing large-scale painted backdrops for national advertising campaigns and the film industry. His clients included Hubert de Givenchy, I. Magnin & Co., Nike, Harley-Davidson, McDonald's Corporation, Ralston Purina, The Walt Disney Company, and The Coca-Cola Company.[5]
His company operated under the name Funkhouser Backdrops in Chicago, Illinois.
Transition to interiors and decorative arts
After more than a decade in theatrical and commercial production, Funkhouser transitioned into residential interiors, applying scenic painting techniques to decorative finishes, textiles, and wall coverings.
He has collaborated with interior designers including Michael S. Smith, Waldo Fernandez, and Rose Tarlow. His work has appeared in interiors featured in publications such as Architectural Digest.[6]
Collaboration with Rose Tarlow
Funkhouser worked with interior designer Rose Tarlow as an in-house textile designer for the Melrose House collection, where he developed silk-screen printing techniques used in the production of the line.[7]
le gracieux
Funkhouser founded his textile line le gracieux in 2002.
Textile designs by Funkhouser for le gracieux have been used in residential interiors featured in design publications including The World of Interiors, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Veranda, Traditional Home, and Architectural Digest.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Books
Textile designs by Funkhouser for le gracieux have appeared in interiors documented in several published books, including:
- A Welcoming Elegance by Suzanne Rheinstein (Rizzoli, 2018)
- Coastal Modern by Tim Clarke (Clarkson Potter, 2012)
- The Way Home by Jeffrey Bilhuber (Rizzoli, 2010)
- Kitchens and Baths by Michael S. Smith (Rizzoli, 2015)
- Houses by Michael S. Smith (Rizzoli, 2018)
- Defining Luxury by Jeffrey Bilhuber (Vendome Press, 2013)
Technique
Funkhouser is known for hand-printing textile techniques, including resist and screen printing methods that draw on traditional craft processes adapted for contemporary interiors.
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