Complex’s August/September Style & Design Issue is burning up newsstands this week with a bunch of pretty ladies and awesomeness in the world of—yup, you guessed it—Style and Design. Brian Donnelly, A.K.A. KAWS, collaborated with N.E.R.D. on Complex’s 2008 Style & Design cover story, so this time around we decided to profile the artist in our regular interview series “The Shotcaller.” Donnelly has had a breakout year, with gallery shows in NY and L.A., artwork on Kanye’s 808’s & Heartbreak, and a recent collabo with Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama.
We just put the uncut interview with KAWS online, where he speaks on Sorayama, Clipse, working with Supreme and BAPE, and new projects on tap. We also put together an exclusive bonus video that features a smoking hot model making out with the KAWS x Hajime Sorayama x Medicom/Original Fake NO FUTURE COMPANION figure…
• CLICK HERE TO READ THE UNCUT KAWS “SHOTCALLER” INTERVIEW
OR KEEP READING FOR THE BONUS VIDEO…
Sure he has an extensive celebrity clientèle like 50 Cent, Eminem and Marisa Miller, but famed California tattooist Mr. Cartoon is now lending his work to limited edition products like a Samsung r450 mobile phone from MetroPCS. The phone, which has a product run of 30,000, features Cartoon’s artwork in his preferred yellow and black scheme, and also features special pre-loaded wallpapers and ringtones. When Cartoon was in town, we got a chance to build with the legend and talk about his latest project. Watch the video below…
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Today, the art world mourns the loss of downtown golden boy Dash Snow, the 27-year old New York artist who reportedly passed away. Snow was known for his multimedia installations, photography, and painting and exhibited in galleries and museums including The Royal Academy in London, the Whitney Museum of American Art’s 2006 Biennial, Deitch Projects, Saatchi Gallery, Peres Projects and the Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery in New York.
Snow was an alternative icon, and perhaps you were familiar with his work. If not, read on below for our quick look-back at 5 of his greatest works…
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Images surfaced yesterday of the Damien Hirst -designed TREK bike that Lance Armstrong will be riding in the eighth stage of the Tour de France bike race next week. The bike, like most things Hirst is attached to, is impressive, and the graphics look like they were created by a crazy man. To put it lightly, Hirst is a crazy man. Crazy paid, that is.
The name “Damien Hirst” is famous, and perhaps you posted his Supreme skateboard collaboration to your blogspot/Twitter and pretended to know his deal. Or maybe you copped that 10Deep T-shirt (?). Dude is actually pretty awesome, and just in case you find yourself pulling a blank when the British homie gets brought up in conversation, we figured we’d break down the bullet points for you. Hit the jump and get educated on Damien Hirst’s most iconic/interesting work so next time you sneak into a gallery function for the free Krug you’ll be all set.
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Many comic artists have mastered the art of drawing sexy female characters, but none are quite like Paul Pope. The man behind titles like 100%, Batman: Year 100, and PulpHope: The Art Of Paul Pope was kind enough to collaborate with the Complex team on “Mirror, Mirror,” the sexy skin shoot from our June/July issue. The concept: two hot women—one illustrated, one photographed—getting intimate in a house-of-mirrors. We just posted the whole story online, so enjoy, sexually repressed nerds!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL “MIRROR, MIRROR” GALLERY!
OR WATCH THE “MAKING OF” VIDEO BELOW…
On July 4th, Los Angeles tattoo artist-turned culture icon Mr. Cartoon re-releases his original Nike collaboration Air Force 1 in a special Livestrong colorway. The new Black/Black-Varsity Maize Mr. Cartoon Air Force 1 will be the first time Mr. Cartoon’s “Spider Web” toebox goes on sale to the public. It was first released as a 2005 Hyperstrike version of the Mr. Cartoon AF1 (50 to Cartoon, 50 to UNDFTD), with additional retail outlets selling the still limted, but different tattoo pattern. This Livestrong-ed up colorway joins the other “Greatest Hits” including the soon to be released Futura FLOM Dunk, Hideout Woven, and Busy P. Air Force 1, created to hype Lance’s involvement in the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday, July 4th.
Mr. Cartoon is a sneaker kingpin, and his signature models of both Nike and Vans helped define the earlier years of the newest generation of sneaker heads. Hit the jump for a history of Mr. Cartoon’s collaborations, including the Livestrong AF1, which comes out on Saturday…
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Last night, we said eff the rain, and trekked upstairs from the Complex office to a party hosted by our bossman Marc Ecko that paid homage to the 25 year anniversary of iconic hip-hop group Run-DMC. Our check-writer threw the event in collaboration with Marco (an art collective that’s spearheaded by Peter Marco), who also had art for sale at the event.
In addition to the pieces that were on sale last night, Ecko and Marco hooked up for a limited edition shirt featuring Marco’s Hollis Crew Quarter Century design. 1,000 of the low-run shirts will be available at shopecko.com in a few weeks. Until then, check out some pics from the party below, including guests like Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and the always recognizable Retro Kidz…
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December 12, 2008 |
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KAWS draws on event host Miss Info
Two evenings ago, The Horticultural Society of New York held their Block Party fundraiser in support of their Greenhouse Program, which prepares and trains rehabilitated felons on Riker's Island for jobs in the New York City Parks Department. Hot 97 personality, and generally awesome lady, Miss Info hosted the event. Block Party Curator Dana Albarella, acclaimed editor of hip, and hop, classic tomes such as Bobbito's Where Did You Get Those? and ego trip's Big Book of Rap Lists, enlisted a slew of top-shelf artists to contribute original works for silent auction, and many incredible works moved at reasonable prices in support of the great cause.
Peep after the jump for flicks of the work'courtesy of headliners like Todd “REAS” James, Brian “KAWS” Donnelly, Steven “ESPO” Powers, Shepard Fairey, Eric Haze, Chris “DAZE” Ellis, and Barry McGee, among others'and candids of several of the contributors who showed face for the cause…
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While most of us use photos for trivial shit like our social networking profiles, Canadian artist Susy Oliveira is making a living out of re-purposing flicks into sick 3D sculptures.
Combining photographs with foam, Oliveira has been churning out tricky-on-the-eyes paper crafts since 2005. Pictured above is Oliveira's “The Girl and the Bear” piece, a more recent creation she's added to her extensive portfolio that includes skulls, flowers, guts, and people re-interpretations. Sick. To see more of Susy's work, check out the gallery below…
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You're mistaken if you think good illustrations are the result of just stenciling photos and tooling around with advanced computer programs. People who do it well have the ill skill-set, and while we can always Google image our favorite celebs, artist/illustrators like Mel Marcelo are making eye-balling famous people that ch more interesting.
Marcelo, a California-based illustrator, has had his art published in magazines like Newsweek, as well as several ad campaigns for brands like Oakley, but his recent work, like a shutter-shaded Barack Obama, and re-depictions of Seth Rogen, and Elizabeth Banks really impressed us. His Flickr is chock-full of bangers, but check some standout pieces below…
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