Article: A Plaza Christmas Through the Eyes of Michael Storrings
A Plaza Christmas Through the Eyes of Michael Storrings
For artist Michael Storrings, New York City has long been an endless source of inspiration. Known for his vibrant illustrations celebrating the energy, charm, and nostalgia of city life, Storrings has become a beloved part of The Plaza's holiday tradition through his collection of collectible Christmas ornaments inspired by the iconic hotel.
Drawing from The Plaza's celebrated architecture, rich history, and festive spirit, each ornament transforms a treasured New York memory into a keepsake designed to be enjoyed year after year. We spoke with Storrings about how his relationship with The Plaza began, the creative process behind bringing his illustrations to life as ornaments, and why New York during the holidays continues to inspire some of his most beloved work.
How did your relationship with The Plaza Hotel begin, and what drew you to designing for such an iconic New York landmark?
It all started with my book, A Very New York Christmas, which featured The Plaza. The hotel boutique carried the book, and because they knew I also designed ornaments, we began discussing what a collaboration might look like.
The Plaza has always felt iconic to me. It's one of those places you know from books, movies, photographs, and legendary New York moments like Truman Capote's Black and White Ball. I also have personal memories there. When I worked at HarperCollins Publishers, we often held holiday parties and events at The Plaza, so it was already connected to Christmas and celebration in my mind. Designing for it felt like a very natural fit.
Your ornaments feel like miniature paintings, almost like vintage travel posters come to life. How do you adapt your flat illustration style to work on a curved, three-dimensional surface?
I usually begin the same way I would with any illustration, working on paper to develop the composition, color palette, and overall feeling of the piece. From there, the process becomes highly collaborative.
I work closely with European factories to translate the artwork onto the shape of the ornament, which is a completely different experience from designing for a flat page. Sometimes I'll provide additional sketches or notes to show where certain details should appear on the curved surface, because placement becomes especially important when someone is turning the ornament in their hand.
We also spend a great deal of time thinking through the decorative elements, including glitter, color accents, embellishments, and all the finishing touches that help bring the scene to life. It's a little bit of art, a little bit of engineering, and a lot of collaboration to ensure the final piece still feels unmistakably like my work, just in a more dimensional and magical form.
You've designed ornaments featuring New York landmarks beyond The Plaza. What makes The Plaza a distinct subject for you compared to places like the Brooklyn Bridge or Central Park?
The Plaza has an instantly recognizable presence. Everyone knows its distinctive façade, architecture, and the feeling of arriving there. It has an elegance that is uniquely tied to New York. In that sense, it absolutely stands alongside landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park.
What makes The Plaza especially interesting to me, however, is that it offers inspiration both inside and out. With many landmarks, you're largely working from the exterior or the silhouette. The Plaza gives you so much more. There's the building itself, of course, but there's also everything happening within it: the lobby, the celebrations, the guests, the holiday decorations, and the constant sense of occasion.
It feels like a microcosm of New York City, all contained within one beautiful and iconic destination.
New York at Christmas is its own kind of magic. How does the city itself influence your holiday work?
The city is absolutely my muse, especially during the holidays.
I love everything about New York at that time of year: the decorations, the people, the energy, the colors, the sounds, and even the constant movement. There is a wonderful blend of hustle and bustle paired with a genuine sense of warmth and generosity.
People are shopping, meeting friends, attending parties, admiring the holiday windows, and walking beneath the lights. Somehow, it all feels connected by a shared holiday spirit. That's the feeling I try to capture in my work. I want each piece to evoke that same sense of movement, color, nostalgia, and joy, the feeling of New York at its most festive and alive.
What do you hope someone feels when they unwrap one of these ornaments for the first time?
My hope is that when someone unwraps one of my ornaments, it immediately brings them back to a memory, whether it's a place they visited, a special Christmas in the city, or a meaningful moment shared with friends and family.
I want the ornament to feel joyful and familiar, almost like a keepsake from a cherished experience. If it makes someone smile, remember a wonderful day, or think about the people they were with when they visited that place, then that's the best reaction I could hope for.
To me, these ornaments are more than decorations. They're small reminders of the places, moments, and traditions we want to hold onto for years to come.
