troy spurlin

more about troy spurlin

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1969. One of my earliest childhood memories was the Christmas that I got my own vacuum cleaner (at three years old I already valued a clean home!). The following year, my family moved to Fleming Island (a small island south of Orange Park, Florida) where my childhood was spent swimming and skiing in the St. Johns River, riding motorcycles, and secretly playing “Isis” when no one was looking. I challenge that my tree house was feng shui’d before I could spell it. When I turned 18, I moved to New York to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and was fortunate to land a job as a “gopher” for Leonard Bernstein. On my first day, I was to report to Bernstein’s home at the Dakota (the apartment building they used to film “Rosemary’s Baby” and where John Lennon was shot) to messenger some items to his publishing company Boosey and Hawkes. I went to the backdoor (I had enough sense to know that I was “help”) and knocked and was quite surprised when Rudolf Nureyev opened the door. He told me the Bernstein’s were neighbors and that I could rut through his apartment. I will never forget the enormous flowers painted on the walls of his dining room. When I got to the Bernstein’s apartment, the maestro answered the door with crazy hair and gravy stains on his cardigan. I stood dumbfounded as he stood in the doorway of the most magnificent apartment I had ever seen. I said, ‘It’s on honor to meet you Mr. Bernstein” He replied, “The honor is mine sir” and gave me a bow. It was then that I knew that not only would Mr. Bernstein be my friend and my benefactor to some wonderful performances but that I would one day have on apartment at the Dakota. Yeah, that didn’t happen — but I persevere. After a few years in New York, I made my way to Los Angeles and lived with the actress, Dona Hill (she was the daughter in “European Vacation” and a staple of eighties television). While working as on actor on such shows as: “Suddenly Susan”, “The Tom Show”, and “Kindred: the Embraced” in addition to many national commercials I continued to freelance as a decorator. In 1999, I was pleased to design the costumes and scenography for the Backlight Theatre Group’s Los Angeles production of “Macbeth” that was later seen to great acclaim in London, England and Pontlevoy, France. In 2000, I returned to Jacksonville and while employed at Jacksonville University as the Director of Corporate Relations did interior and exterior work across the First Coast. Following on instinct in 2004, I returned to Los Angeles and was fortunate to work for internationally acclaimed interior decorator Joe Nye while also appearing on ”The George Lopez Show.” After only a year in Los Angeles and with much thought to my turning 35 (omg), I accepted a job at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (formerly JMOMA) as the Director of Marketing and Special Events. During my time at the museum I sidelined doing interiors throughout North Florida. After creating events for MOCA Jacksonville such as: Jammin’ at JMOMA, MOCA in the Middle, Sunday in the Park with George (co-sponsored with WJCT), JMOMA’s Great Race, and Canvas of Sound I decided to take the advice of co-workers, colleagues, friends and family and open troyspurlin INTERIORS.