GREENSBORO, N.C. — Furnishings designer John E. Black, age 71, died at his house Dec. 17 after a protracted battle with most cancers.
Black was born in Morganton, N.C., on June 1, 1950, the son of Fred and Martha Black, who preceded him in dying. After attending Kendall Faculty of Artwork and Design within the early Nineteen Seventies, Black apprenticed with main furnishings design companies in Montreal, Washington D.C. and Chicago. From 1991-2000, he served as Baker Furnishings vp of design, guiding the event of collections from Barbara Barry, Michael Vanderbyl and Milling Street, amongst others.
Black shaped J Black Design in 2000, a partnership along with his spouse, Joyce Lortz Black. He designed iconic furnishings collections for main luxurious manufacturers, together with Baker, Century, Councill, Ethan Allen, Hancock & Moore, Hickory Chair, Kravet and Vanguard. He retired in 2018.
Along with his spouse Joyce, Black is survived by his son and two grandchildren.
A celebration of John Black’s life and profession will probably be held on March 30, 2022, on the Bienenstock Furnishings Library in Excessive Level for household, pals and colleagues. Additional particulars will probably be forthcoming.
Joyce Black, along with household and pals, have established a design scholarship in John Black’s title, in partnership with the Bienenstock Furnishings Library, supporting the Library’s Future Designers Summit set for the autumn 2022. In lieu of flowers, contributions are most welcome and absolutely tax deductible. Please make checks payable to the Bienenstock Furnishings Library (with “John Black” famous within the memo line) and mail to the Library at 1009 N. Principal Avenue, Excessive Level, N.C. 27262.