John Houshmand was born in 1954. Raised by a Dutch-American mother and an Iranian father, John has always danced between Eastern philosophy and Western principles. He was cultured at an early age, spending his youth abroad in the Philippines, Great Britain, Iran, and Israel.

Educated at Yale University, John received a BA in Art History in 1978. In the midst, he explored the worlds of professional photography and ceramic arts, featured in gallery exhibits and major publications. Because working with his hands proved a natural extension of his inner vision, John immersed himself in an assortment of artistic realms. He studied under the direction of Erwin Hauer, Professor Emeritus of Sculpture.

In his first days at Yale, John met guitarist Patrick S. Noonan and violinist Jonathan Levi, and they formed the group that became known as Laurasia. Since then he has produced and recorded eclectic world jazz albums playing guitar, bass, and percussion.

Ultimately, it was his love for nature that led him to begin crafting homes, log chalets and bridges in the Northwest. Having relocated to New York in 1980, John launched a career by co-partnering Clark Construction, a preeminent NYC-based contracting firm.

John’s inventive essence and exceptional life experiences have harmonized to produce his latest masterful creation. His current endeavor, John Houshmand Design, involves designing and crafting an exclusive line of functional art, ironically disguised as furniture. John’s work embodies the simplicity of Eastern aesthetics, a vibrant celebration of nature, and a deep reverence for all things esoteric. John is Commander-in-Chief of this entire operation. His unique relationship with the natural world has manifested into a 900-acre farm in upstate New York, which is where he creates his furniture today.

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