About
Christina Z Antonio is a multi-disciplinary Artist and Designer. A trained master-craftsman in multiple mediums, she creates artistic furniture, lighting, and objets d’art using diverse precious metals and materials including leather, gemstones, parchment, wood, metal, resin and mouth blown glass.
Working from her studio in the Flatiron District of New York City, Christina brings a variety of techniques and intricate detail to her work by layering, carving and painting surfaces, while maintaining a refined and sophisticated result. The function of each piece is equally meaningful for Antonio as she integrates internal mechanisms that she engineers herself.
Born and raised in London to Greek parents and a long line of artisans and creators, Christina credits her love of superior tailoring and artisanal craftsmanship to her father and grandfather’s legacy. Her grandfather was a successful bespoke shoemaker from Greece, and her father was a leather artisan, trained at Cordwainers College. Their legacy of experience, coupled with her sensibility for beauty and modern luxury, is evident throughout Christina’s portfolio. Christina graduated with Honors from the University of the Arts in London, specializing in Fashion, Textiles and Surface Design. “I was originally drawn to fashion because I loved the theatrical experience and almost art exhibition-like sensibility of couture shows,” she states.
Upon relocating to New York City in 2000, Chrisitna began styling for the hit HBO show, Sex and the City, famously helmed by Patricia Field and Rebecca Weinberg, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Her career reached a pivotal turning point when she assisted with the design of the leather architectural interiors for Mulberry. Drawing on her family legacy working with the material, her process-based experimental education, and her focus on custom leather furniture and decorative hardware design, Antonio founded her atelier in 2005.
Her strong reputation for design and quality craftsmanship have placed Christina Z Antonio at the forefront of the interior design community. Inspired by the Art Deco movement, Antonio seeks out rare and exquisite materials from around the world, and creates one-of-kind, limited edition, seductive works of art. Antonio’s distinct fusion of European architectural sensibilities with the preciseness of modern insight and technique allows her to create the heirlooms of tomorrow: sophisticated and sustainable pieces, handcrafted to last for generations to come. Clients lovingly refer to Antonio as the “Hermes of the U.S.”
An impressive catalog of bespoke furniture and architectural installations have led to many creative partnerships including Brad Pitt’s collaboration with acclaimed designer Frank Pollaro in 2012. Christina Z Antonio takes on a limited number of projects a year, working with notable interior designers, architects and luxury hotels to create custom designs, including The Greenwich Hotel, The Standard Hotel, The Gramercy Park Hotel, and The East Hampton Country Club in New York; the Rosewood Hotel in London; as well as Tom Ford, John Varvatos, and AD100 designers including: Studio Sofield, Amy Lau, Tony Chi, Robert Couturier, Ike Kligerman and Barkley, and Muriel Brandolini.
In 2017, Christina Z Antonio received the Innovation and Design Award from NYC&G. In 2020, Antonio was accepted to participate and produce a booth for the Architectural Digest Design Show. She has been featured in Architectural Digest, Surface, Design Milk, Domino, Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design and more. In 2021, Christina made her debut as a participant on Ellen’s Next Great Designer by Ellen Degeneres on HBO Max along with Scott Foley, Fernando Mastrangelo, and Brigette Romanek. Also in 2021, Christina Z Antonio was awarded the Independent Designer Award from NYCxDesign and Interior Design Magazine during ICFF.