Bird Studio

A sophisticated take on a beach home, our fine grit plaster finish with occasional shell-like inclusions kept things subtle but unmistakably coastal.

For this client, the Devonian inclusions gave us the opportunity to compose our own repetitive pattern throughout the entrance with lofty ceilings and a clear story though to the second floor primary bedroom suite.

The great thing about a custom finish is that you have the control - more sparse or a denser pattern, depending on your taste. We work with each client to design the exact finish that complements their home.

It’s time we reintroduced the faces behind Bird Studio, especially because there’s a new one! Our small but mighty team was excited to welcome Netanel Portier this spring in the role of Studio Manager.

Netanel is our everything-logistics guru and the powerhouse behind our operations. Her expertise is at the intersection of non profit administration, arts management and community-centered public art programing.

She comes to us after almost two decades at Mural Arts, one of Philadelphia’s most renowned arts organizations. She is also a first-generation American and mother of two intercultural kids.

Nicolo Gentile is our Project Manager, master maker and shop runner extraordinaire. He is a practicing artist and an expert in 3D fabrication, modeling and metal work with a keen eye for material specificity and process. Nicolo holds an MFA in Sculpture from Tyler School of Art and Architecture of Temple University where he currently teaches.

And of course…Zack Bird, the Owner and Principal Artist of Bird Studio (named for 3 generations of Bird artists!)

A home-grown Philadelphian, Zack has forged a niche relationship between art and business with Bird Studio’s many offerings.
He received his formal education in painting, casting, and conservation at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, with continued studies at Studio Incamminati. On his rare day off, Zack can be found building cool stuff with his two sons, Lachlan and Dylan.

Any given day this tireless trio is ready to make your project dreams come true!

There's magic happening in the studio right now, stay tuned for an upcoming reveal of these beauties.. (and where they're going!)

Hint: These are just the models 👀

Sculpture - caryatid - restaurant design - interior decoration - model - ancient Greece - pillar design - hand carved

Our client immediately recognized that the structural column at the center of her kitchen interrupted an otherwise refined, thoughtfully designed space. The original solution was simply to box it in, but we saw an opportunity to turn it into a feature instead.

Bird Studio designed a custom fluted brass column that transforms a necessary structural element into an intentional architectural focal point, seamlessly coordinating with the surrounding hardware and millwork.

It's these moments of creative problem solving that we love most. Finding opportunities where others see limitations.

Special thanks to Philadelphia's premiere metalsmith John Rais and his team for expertly fabricating this custom design.

Have a design challenge that needs a creative solution? We'd love to help. 📞

✨ Exactly 1 year ago ✨
Throwback to when we were finishing up the 20-ft Borromini mural that barely fit in the studio! This was such a fun project, and we love how much WOW it added to the dining experience at this beautiful new restaurant.

Swipe to the end to remember what it looked like installed!

Mural - fresco - restaurant design - plaster - Borromini Restaurant - Italian restaurant decor - Stokes architecture - Stephen Starr