Reality Show Featuring Anthropologie Buyer Keith Johnson
Attention all you Anthro lovers!!! Here’s something to geek out over…
The Sundance Channel is gearing up to premier “Man Shops Globe” on October 7th, 2009. This show is a new original series starring Keith Johnson, the antiques buyer for the innovative specialty retailer Anthropologie. One of the largest purchasers of decorative antiques in the world, Johnson globe trots six months out of the year to find unique and beautiful items. The eight-part, half-hour series “Man Shops Globe” (working title), follows his high-pursuit, ends-of-the-earth excursions, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India to obscure art studios across the globe. The series is produced by World of Wonder (“Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” “Show Biz Mom & Dads,” “One Punk Under God”).
“Sundance Channel’s audience loves travel and design so we are very enthusiastic about offering our viewers an inside look at Keith’s adventures and an appreciation of his dedication to nurturing artists, as well as an understanding of what makes his eye so unique. His charm, coupled with his knowledge of the gorgeous objects and antiques he finds are sure to have our audience salivating for more,” said Sundance Channel GM Laura Michalchyshyn. “We are also thrilled to be working with World of Wonder again; it is always a great collaborative process resulting in good work!”
In each location, be it China, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, France, England, India, or Scandinavia, Johnson hits the ground running with a different team of local experts and artists who help him acquire and re-imagine a new life for the eclectic objects he finds. Working against the clock and driven by his own competitive spirit, he is inexhaustible in his search for uncommon design. This series is also distinguished by Johnson’s appreciation of the creative process: each episode will showcase exquisite and delightful objects as well as the artists and process behind the work.
Whether he discovers an antique table or wealth of original works in an undiscovered artist’s studio, viewers are sure to be fascinated with Johnson’s knack for finding covetable, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Executive Producers are Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. Co Executive Producer and Director is Jeremy Simmons. The Executive Producer for Sundance Channel is Lynne Kirby and the Supervising Producer is Ann Rose.
About Keith Johnson:
Keith Johnson’s passion for art, antiques and travel emerged in childhood as he accompanied his father, an art dealer, on excursions through Europe. His current role as Anthropologie’s antiques buyer is driven by Johnson’s early experiences and boundless curiosity. He spends most of the year abroad in search of decorative antiques to be sold in Anthropologie stores and serve as inspiration for in-house design, as well as gifted artisans to create original works.
Johnson’s relationship with Anthropologie began in 1994 when his partner Glen Senk, now CEO of parent company Urban Outfitters Inc., became president. Senk asked Johnson to find antiques for the women’s lifestyle retailer’s first store. As Anthropologie grew so did Johnson’s responsibilities. He now acquires antiques for 115 Anthropologie stores and curates the art gallery in Anthropologie’s Rockefeller Center location.
