GIDP > About > Pierre Finkelstein
Pierre Finkelstein was Born in France. He served for the French Foreign Legion and then attended the prestigious Van de Kellen Institute in Brussels. Here he received intensive training in a full range of classical applications including woodgraining, marbling, gilding, patina, and trompe l’oeil. In 1990, he was awarded the distinguished title of Best Craftsman of France award for decorative painting.
Based in New York City for the past 30 years, Pierre has made a name for himself as a specialist in high-end residential and 19th century European period style.
Pierre’s business grew rapidly as designers, architects and clients became aware of his abilities producing believable renditions of faux marble, wood, and ornamentation techniques. Clients look to Pierre to give expert advice and color consultation and to meticulously create custom finishes for every project
Pierre’s sharp eye for design and strong desire for perfection enable him to quickly understand what the client envisions, produce working samples, and deliver the final product on time, within budget, and exceeding expectation. This makes him an indispensible, reliable resource for interior designers and architects.
As founder and director of Grand Illusion Decorating Painting and the Pierre Finkelstein Institute of Decorative Painting, Inc., Pierre shares his unique techniques and vast expertise through both basic and advanced master classes. He is also the author of the two best-selling books, The Art of Faux and Recipes for Surfaces.