Banksy filmed him, Berlusconi has collected his work, and Shepard Fairey called him “awesome, infuriating, almost impossible to define.” Mr. Brainwash — aka Thierry Guetta — is the exuberant, French, chain-smoking, paint-splattered chatterbox whose street-meets-Pop art is, like any good hyperbole, larger than life. We visited with MBW in the 15,000 square-foot Meatpacking District warehouse where his first New York solo show will open this weekend; check out the highlights (including a photo set) after the jump.
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Derrick Cruz, owner and designer of emerging accessories label Black Sheep and Prodigal Sons, delights in talking about each of his pieces and the process, story, and inspiration behind them. “It is an uncommon brand filled with narrative accessories and art objects,” he explains. A label that makes a statement not only in its final incarnation, but in the sum of its parts. Cruz’s Lower East Side studio features a curio case of found objects, organic materials, and hand-carved sculptures that are the basis for past and upcoming collections. The material list is vast — from piano keys and horse hair to honey combs and discarded furniture. His true artistry is in his ability to find beauty in even the most minuscule of objects while still weaving it together to create his own unspoken tale. Read More »
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Since Necklush‘s inception eight months ago, you can’t go on a blog or open a magazine without seeing someone rocking a piece by Stephano Diaz and Troy Mattison Hicks. (It’s like when Lanyard broke out in 2007.) Handcrafted from start to finish in Greenpoint, Brooklyn (the studio is a stone’s throw from the Pulowski Bridge) their necklaces are simple, yet unique. Each piece starts out as a hand silk-screened limited-edition print that is then shredded and sewn into loops that are eventually wrapped together to create a thick cord. Read More »
Crisp, clean, and spacious are just some of the words you could use to describe the midtown studio of designer Ce Ce Chin. The President and Creative Director of 80%20 is a rising talent in the shoe industry with a cult following that spans across the country. Ironic, as her Spring 2010 line was inspired by Smithereens, Susan Seidelman’s ’80s cult classic about New York’s burgeoning punk scene. “Perhaps these days are looking like those — tough economics, but good for creative spirit (only the strong survive),” she has said. “Empty storefronts mean possibility to me.” Read More »
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It’s easy to miss the Brooklyn studio of emerging accessories line Digby & Iona. Everything about it is unassuming, including the small rusted sign that reads “D & I” above the door. That, however, is the perfect introduction to designer Aaron Ruff and his fall collection. At first glance, his pieces (often inspired by his childhood in Maine) could be described as whimsical, but as you delve deeper, you realize you’re admiring the skill of a true craftsman (just like his father). Read More »
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Jessica Grindstaff’s Bushwick studio is like wandering into an enormous Wunderkammer. Each nook and cranny houses a carefully displayed collection of found objects from well curated dioramas to vintage photographs. These give an interesting insight into her influences as an artist and the many places she has traveled too. Her studio not only houses her own latest projects, but is often shared with a revolving array of artists and designers. Currently she is working on two set design collaborations with her new company, Phantom Limb, as well as continuing to develop and produce her wildly popular Prize Ribbons. Read More »
