RENOWNED DESIGNER AND ARTISAN – SONDRA ALEXANDER

In her converted Victorian home in San Francisco, California, Sondra Alexander, the internationally acclaimed designer of wall coverings, creates handcrafted works of art in paper and fabric. Reviving the centuries-old art form of handcrafted wallpaper, her original and distinctive designs, which can be found in Trade showrooms throughout the country, grace the walls of such prestigious establishments as Tiffany's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and the Presidential Suite at the Hilton Waikoloa.

Born in New York City, America's fashion mecca, as a child Sondra Alexander developed a passion for design and fashion, so with Vogue magazine in tow, she began to frequent New York's Fifth Avenue in search of great design ideas. By 1965, Sondra had opened her own shop in Coconut Grove, Florida, showcasing her unique, sophisticated line of hand-painted clothing. Recognizing a pioneer on the cutting edge of fashion, before long, up-scale boutiques across the country were carrying her creations, and by 1973, she had developed her own clothing line called Immagini.

However, this adventurous and creative free spirit, acutely attuned to the texture, color and design inherent in nature and architecture, soon began to look for other mediums of expression. By 1977, she had moved into the interior design field, which eventually led her to the lost art of handcrafted wallpaper; the ideal medium in which to express her full range of interests, talents, and inspired vision. This vision is constantly nourished by the world around her. “I remember once, while walking through the streets of Rome, how awed I was by the beauty of ancient structures,” states Sondra Alexander. “The rich patinas, the layers of ever-changing textures created by centuries of exposure, and the juxtaposition of color within the peeling surfaces and from building to building—it was a mystical moment.” And just such epiphanies continue to inspire and invigorate her creative energy.

According to scholars, wallpaper first appeared in Europe during the 1500's, as a substitute for the ornate and expensive tapestries that adorned castle walls, then made its way to America in 1739. Early wallpaper was handcrafted in strips 25 inches by twelve feet, the artwork applied by hand, using paint, wood blocks, or stencils. However, in 1840, they began to manufacture wallpaper by machine, in continuous rolls, with machine applied roller printing—and the era of the handcrafted wallpaper had lost its momentum—until, that is, it found its way into the capable hands of Sondra Alexander.

In 1982, during a resurgence in the home furnishings industry, Sondra Alexander moved to San Francisco and began offering her personal label wall coverings, the Sondra Alexander Designs, and in 1989 she bought Yangki wall coverings, successfully merging the two lines. Melding Old World artistry with modern technology and contemporary design, Sondra Alexander continues to create exquisite, one of kind designs in fabric and paper.

Working on tables sixty feet in length, making repeated applications of color and texture as she works her magic down the length of each piece, Sondra uses only the highest quality, environmentally friendly materials available and nontoxic paint, often using recycled and recyclable papers, such as rice paper, bark and kozo. All of her papers are “A” rated and known for their ease of application, maintenance and durability. And still working in her first love, textiles, Sondra offers exceptional hand-painted companion pieces in a variety of fabrics, such as velvet, silk and linen.

Hand applied designs infused with both tactile and artistic qualities, Sondra Alexander uses a variety of materials, including paint, stone, sand, metal, plaster, and rice paper, to impart her unique vision and to create compelling dimensional textures. With its intense depth of color, texture and luminosity, Sondra Alexander's distinctly contemporary, architectural style still imparts a sense of life and breath plucked from the natural world, allowing for moods that range from the sensuous and earthy, to the mystical or avant-garde, to the heights of sophistication. Inspirational and innovative, the Sondra Alexander Collection and Yangki wall coverings transform and transport interior spaces.

Appreciated by her clients for her generous spirit, infectious enthusiasm and extraordinary talent, Sondra Alexander's works of art adorn the walls of high-end hotels, restaurants, country clubs, cruise lines, department stores, and private homes from coast to coast and abroad.