Today, Dakota Jackson’s luxury chairs, sofas, tables and other pieces are known for their stylish and expressive forms, so it’s perhaps not a surprise that the American contemporary furniture designer has spent a lifetime immersed in the arts.
Born to a family of professional magicians, Jackson was raised in a household that had a flair for the dramatic. A young Dakota moved to Manhattan and mingled with the bustling creative scene. There, he studied minimalist dance at multiple companies, performed with an experimental theater group and worked in special effects. His fascination with illusion and drama seeped into his creative inclinations, especially when he decided to shift his artistic energy toward furniture.
Jackson’s foray into design began in the 1970s when he got his hands dirty during the build-out of his loft apartment in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood back when lofts weren’t quite the heavenly residences of today. He constructed his own walls and bathroom fixtures and worked with a variety of materials that included lacquered wood, leather and chrome-plated steel, crafting intriguing seating and case pieces that would later end up in museums. (His famed Library chair is part of the collection at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.)
Jackson’s work became so well known throughout the buzzing art scene that he garnered the attention of reputable antique dealers who enlisted him to restore their own pieces of furniture. In 1974, Yoko Ono became a client. She commissioned Jackson to design a desk for John Lennon’s birthday. After he finished the former Beatle’s custom piece — an unconventional Art Deco–style writing desk that mirrored a Chinese puzzle box with secret compartments and hidden drawers — celebrities flocked to Jackson like bees to honey, and his name became synonymous with immaculate craftsmanship as well as the era’s radical American Art Furniture movement, which drew on Surrealism, Pop art and other traditions.
Even Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg asked Jackson to create the now-famous Eclipse bed, a sensual, striking structure framed in glossy cherrywood and upholstered in satin. In 1978, the lifelong arts lover paired a piano factory with his furniture manufacturing company and collaborated with Steinway & Sons on the design of several limited-edition pianos over the years. Today, Dakota Jackson, Inc., counts massive corporations among his clients and continues to design new collections.
Find a collection of Dakota Jackson furniture on 1stDibs.
Pair of Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet Maple ArmChairs
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet lacquered Maple Armchairs. Measures 24.75" in width, 26" in depth and stands 35" in height. Seat height is 18.5". Arm height is 26". Seat interi...
Upholstery, Velvet, Maple
$2,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Dakota Jackson PFM Royale Leather Dining Armchairs
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic pair of hardwood dining armchairs designed by Dakota Jackson known as PFM Royale chairs. The pair feature whimsical bowed arms conjoined to a generous seating area with cogn...
Leather, Hardwood
Dakota Jackson Leather Swivel Chair
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Vintage Swivel Arm Chair by Dakota Jackson - a timeless piece of furniture that exudes elegance and sophistication. Crafted wi...
Leather, Wood
Dakota Jackson Leather Club Art Deco Style PFM Armchair
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Dakota Jackson Leather Club PFM Art Deco Style Bridge Armchair. Dakota Jackson PFM armchair in the manner of 1920s art deco bridge chairs. The first chair to become a permanent fixtu...
Wood
$715Sale Price|35% Off
Dakota Jackson "Ke-Zu" Leather Club Armchair
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The Ke-Zu chair features in Dakota Jackson's classic Ke-Zu Collection. It is characterized by a form-fitted design that is luxuriously sculpted to the body with leather seating. Ther...
Leather, Wood
$6,972 / item
H 30.71 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
Mid-Century Modern Caju Swivel Lounge Chair, Leather Boucle, Handmade Greenapple
By Rute Martins, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Mid-Century Modern Caju Swivel Lounge Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Caju swivel lounge chair embodies the perfect balance between organic design and sophisticated elegance. Inspired by the natural curves of a cashew, its enveloping silhouette and premium upholstery make it a standout piece of unparalleled comfort in contemporary interiors. A favorite swivel lounge chair among designers, Caju seamlessly combines artistry and design, becoming a timeless addition to any living space. Designed by Rute Martins, Greenapple's Creative Director. The Caju Armchair...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Pair of Mid Century Dining Armchairs Attributed to Probber
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Well designed and crafted pair of Mid-Century Modern armchairs attributed to Harvey Probber. Both have curved and caned back rests, tied spring upholstered vinyl upholstered seats an...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Art Deco Club Armchair .
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Art Deco club armchair from 1940 Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop from the beginning to the end is subjected to manual renovation, s...
Upholstery
$953 / set
H 29.93 in W 18.9 in D 20.48 in
Pair of Chrome Dining Armchairs by David Palterer for Zanotta, Italy, 1987
By Zanotta, David Palterer
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Artistic and stylish pair of side / dining chairs by David Palterer for Zanotta, Italy. The chairs are made in chromed tubular frame that features a floating backrest. The wood is ma...
Chrome
$3,412
H 28.35 in W 43.71 in D 34.06 in
Two Vintage Chesterfield Leather Club Armchairs Feather Cushions
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale one of two pairs of lovely vintage Chesterfield leather club armchairs with down filled feather ...
Leather
Belgian Pair of Armchairs Chairs in Leather and Oak
By Frits Schuitema, Schuitema & Zonen
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Frits Schuitema for Shaker Furniture by Schuitema en Zonen, pair of armchairs model 1130, stained wood, leather, Belgium, 1970s. A beautiful pair o...
Leather, Wood
$7,814 / item
H 34.26 in W 33.08 in D 37.41 in
Modern Capelinhos Swivel Lounge Chair, Leather, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Capelinhos Swivel Lounge Chair, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Capelinhos swivel lounge chair with footstool celebrates exceptio...
Leather, Wood, Oak, Alpaca, Bouclé, Linen, Velvet, Walnut, Lacquer
1 Dakota Jackson Library Dining Side Chair
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Pasadena, TX
Library chairs designed and made by Dakota Jackson. A classic, straightforward design in natural Cordovan maple.
Maple
$3,798Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.41 in W 35.44 in D 34.26 in
Art Deco Club Armchair in Hand-Patinated Cognac Leather
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A superb club armchair crafted in the style of 1930s French Art Deco design. Upholstered in hand-patinated cognac-brown sheep leather, the chair combines classic proportions with lux...
Leather, Sheepskin, Beech
$11,420 / set
H 31.5 in W 37.41 in D 33.47 in
Contemporary Conchula Swivel Lounge Chair Set/2, Italian MOHAIR, Greenapple
By Dedar, Rute Martins, Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Contemporary Conchula Swivel Lounge Chair Set/2, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Conchula swivel lounge chair is a room-defining furnitu...
Brass
Modern Upholstered Dining Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern upholstered dining armchair with solid beech and a dark Macadamia finish. With a scoop barrel back and tightly upholstered seat cus...
Wood
Pair of Antique French Art Deco Leather Club Armchairs.
Located in Sherborne, GB
A matching pair of French, art deco leather club armchairs, they are identical in shape and size, the only difference being that one is more caramel coloured than the other. These generous pair of antique leather club chairs...
Leather, Beech
Dakota Jackson Maple Wood "Library" Armchairs, Pair
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Pair of Dakota Jackson designed natural Cordovan maple "Library" Chairs. The Library Chair is the quintessential, well-designed, highly-styled chair for both institutional and reside...
Maple
Set of Four Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet Maple Arm Chairs
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Germantown, MD
Set of Four Dakota Jackson Crimped Velvet lacquered Maple ArmChairs. Measures 24.75" in width, 26" in depth and stands 35" in height. Seat height is 18.5". Arm height is 26". Seat i...
Upholstery, Velvet, Maple
Dakota Jackson Modern 'Ceylon' Lounge Chairs
By HOLLY HUNT, Dakota Jackson
Located in Astoria, NY
Dakota Jackson for Holly Hunt pair of modern 'Ceylon' lounge chairs with steam-bent arm rests and ladder backs and dark blue mohair upholstery. Age-app...
Upholstery, Wood
Dakota Jackson 'PFM' Dining Chairs, Set of Ten, 1970's
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Manhasset, NY
The PFM was the first chair to become a standard in Dakota Jackson Line, taking it's inspiration from 1920s classicism and the Paris Flea Market. Klin-dried hard wood framed, glued, ...
Fabric, Wood
Contemporary Modernist Dakota Jackson Pair of Leather Lounge Armchairs
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is an outstanding pair of leather lounge armchairs, with black lacquer bases, by Dakota Jackson. In good vintage condition, with patina to match the age and us...
Leather
Set of Three Dakota Jackson Ringback Chairs
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Three, contemporary leather ringback chairs on solid cherry, ebonized legs by Dakota Jackson. Striking set of chairs for any seating area. These chairs are in good condition—the doub...
Set of Ten Armchairs by Dakota Jackson
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful set of 10 armchairs designed by Dakota Jackson. 2 chairs are upholstered in the same fabric and the others are all upholstered in different colors and patterns. The frame...