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Daily Style & Design News: August 26, 2009

Bradley — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:02:36 +0000

Absolut Boston: tastes like Yankee hatred, 2AM call times, and fat girls in sweaters. We kid, this stuff is actually really good. [Absolut Ads]

Converse x Patta x greatest band ever. [Hypebeast]

Worst. Idea. Ever. Please leave your rollerblades on the beach. [Gizmodo]

New Takashi Murakami “Inochi” dolls are on the way. Get your coin purse out. [High Snobiety]

Winter snowboard gear leaks are starting (FUCK). Oakley x LRG. [High Snobiety]

Japan gets the coolest shit. 4,500 lumens projector, put it in the bag. [Crunch Gear]

REAS wants you to go see his art show. He sent you a digital invite. Get thee to Paris. [Youtube]

Daily Style & Design News: August 24, 2009

Joe — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:26:49 +0000

REAS dropped 4 new prints, that may or may not be sold out by the time you finish reading this. [Todd James]

FUCT’s fall/winter 2009 range is called “SSDD” which stand for “Same Shit Different Day.” Here’s a full look at the whole collection. [HighSnobiety]

After its recent Ghostbuster collabo, BAPE teams up with Japanese comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto for t-shirts and keychains. Expect Americans to cop without knowing who the eff Hitoshi is. [Hypebeast]

Koston on Nike SB is going to be a problem. Check a preview of his first dunk. [ Ctothejl]

Ever wondered what it looks like to get punched in the face in super slow-mo? This video is awesome. [Famecast]

Daily Style & Design News: August 19, 2009

Bradley — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:41:26 +0000

Do you want us to re-print the type above? No. You’re a big kid. If you live in Paris, go see this. It’s gonna be dope. [REAS]

Futura Air Force 1 pack. Let the countdown begin. [Freshness]

How should The Hope Diamond be set? Who the F cares. Maybe you. [Smithsonian Channel]

Two awesome awesome awesome developments in the world of electronics today: Bose’s new headphones and Canon’s new S90 camera. Not sure where that rent money is going to come from… [Gizmodo]

ALIFE x Dickies workwear. Oh cool. [Slam x Hype]

You can chill on chasing the True Blue IIIs. Jordan is going to be dropping the white/white/red cements next year. [Nice Kicks]

Daily Style & Design News: April 23, 2009

Joe — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:14:04 +0000

Complex homie Todd “REAS” James curated an art exhibit that opens 5/1/09 and runs through 6/20/09 featuring KAWS, Dash Snow, Jose Parla and more. [Reasinternational]

If you have $600 to spend on a BBC suede backpack, you’re definitely beating the shit out of the recession. [HighSnobiety]

Jim Jones would rather Ron Browz himself than wear the Air Yeezys. [Ctothejl]

Nike tapped illustrator James Jarvis to create a short film of a yellow character running through a bunch of different settings. Awww. [Hypebeast]

An Obama USB key? Enough is enough people. [Ubergizmo]

Daily Style & Design News: January 29, 2009

Bradley — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:30:36 +0000

Money isn’t crazy these days, but if you have $250, Don’t Come in Australia will hook you up with one of these REAS screenprints which debuted at the recent opening. Each of the four (Check the other two after the jump) measures 15″ x 22″ and is screened onto archival acid free paper. The prints are in editions of 50, so act fast. Contact info@dontcome.com.au, and tell them you want all of ‘em. [Don't Come]

I can has that? Unfortunately, the answer is probably, “Ha. No. Too Expensive, and you can’t read those letters.” If you’re referring to this awesome Colette x Visvim backpack on sale now at Headporter. (sigh) [High Snobiety]

Puma’s all gold 24K Mid with UNDFTD is on display and looking…shiny! [Hypebeast]

hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa. You got to see this. New Phenomenon lookbook. Wow. Imagine if an NY streetwear brand tried to pull something like this? I guess it’s a different market, but nevertheless amazing. [Mash Kulture]

Leak! Check the Gourmet Fall ‘09 samples from Bread and Butter. [High Snobiety]

REAS Teases Australian Shows With New Trailer

Joe — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:58:16 +0000

Fresh for '09…Complex homie and world-renowned artist Todd “REAS” James just hit us with a teaser trailer for two Australian shows that open next week.

The shows, called “Unnatural Disasters” and “Double Disaster,” feature never-before-seen graphic art (including some cartoon-y titties!) for the browsing pleasure of REAS fans. Check the shows out at Camperdown’s Monster Children gallery on January 15 and Melbourne’s Don’t Come gallery on January 16. Or, if you can’t make it down under, watch the trailer below to get a taste…

For more info, visit: www.toddjames.com

REAS Debuts ‘The New Deal’ Print Today

jerwin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:54:50 +0000

Your favorite Complex cover artist (or second, depending on taste) is at it again. Mr. Todd James a.k.a. REAS recently launched a new website, and today he’s debuting a brand new print called “The New Deal.” The piece, which is 29.2″ x 22″ and printed on Coventry Rag 335g archival paper, goes on sale today at noon with a limited run of 150. Complex recently got up with REAS to discuss his latest endeavors. Read on for the quick interview, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at a new piece he’ll be debuting in London next month…

Complex: So you recently launched a new website, toddjames.com. What’s up with that, why the new launch?

REAS: I owned the domain for a long time and thought it would be a good place to sell zines and prints.

Complex: What’s up with the new print, “The New Deal”?

REAS: It’s a painting I did a year or so ago that I really loved and decided to make a print edition of. The results are great. The people I’ve shown it to first hand think it’s an original; the graphite ink is really mind blowing. It looks like the real thing.

Complex: The title seems kinda timely considering recent electoral events.

REAS: Yeah, but that’s luck of the dice I guess.

Complex: It looks kinda like a robbery or something. Is there a story behind it?

REAS: Nope. Just two figures making an exchange.

Complex: So what are your plans for the rest of ‘08 and going into ‘09?

REAS’s forthcoming print that he will debut in London next month

REAS: I have a big piece, the biggest I’ve made on paper, 17′ x 17,’ in a group show in a museum in Walsall, England with the Lazarides crew, I think that opens December 5th. And two shows in Australia, one on January 15th at Monster Children and another in Melbourne at a place called Don’t Come.

‘Block Party’ Art Auction Helps Save Convicts

noahc — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:13:20 +0000

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…

Pictured Above: Brian “KAWS” Donnelly and Todd “REAS” James

Pictured Above: Eric Haze

Pictured Above: HAZE piece

Pictured Above: Harry Chalfant piece

Pictured Above: ESPO Piece

Pictured Above: KAWS, ego trip’s Brent Rollins, and Complex Editor In Chief Noah Callahan-Bever

Pictured Above: KAWS PIECE

Pictured Above: Event host Miss Info

Pictured Above: Richard Kern piece

Pictured Above: KAWS draws on Miss Info

Pictured Above: Greenhousers take a bow

Reas Talks ‘Blood & Treasure’ Exhibit In London

jerwin — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:15:28 +0000

Above: “Blood Wave” by REAS

The good news? There are 4 months, 26 days, and a handful of hours left in the George W. Bush presidency. The bad? Homeboy has seriously effed up a bunch of things, most notably the war in Iraq.

It’s with that in mind that graf legend and multi-media artist (and Complex cover designer) Todd “REAS” James opens his latest exhibit, “Blood & Treasure” at the Lazarides Gallery in London tomorrow night, where it will run through September 26. Before he jetted off to the U.K., James sat with Complex to discuss the science behind his latest batch of beautiful mindfuck pieces. Check the interview below…

By Jack Erwin

Complex: So the stuff in “Blood and Treasure” is new work? How long have you been working on it?

Todd James: Since the beginning of the year. It's an extension of the work I did at V1 Gallery for a show titled “Trouble.”

Complex: What's the inspiration for the work in this exhibit?

Todd James: Global conflict, Iraq. Basically the state of things now.

“Secret Base” by REAS

Complex: As far as the mainstream media is concerned, the view is that the war in Iraq is going better now. What's your take?

Todd James: Well we should have never been there to begin with. Really, the situation on the ground for the troops might be up but on the whole, for the country, it's not. We are spending shitloads on this thing and we borrowed and are borrowing the money from other countries.

Complex: When you're putting your work together, do you think about trying to challenge people to look at things any differently?

Todd James: I don't know. I made this work for myself initially, just kind of a reaction to watching the news. I don't know if people will view the war differently. I think most people know this was wrong by now. Maybe it's just a reminder.

Complex: So are you worried about a “preaching to the choir” sort of thing creeping in?

Todd James: No, because I'm not really preaching. It's through my filter and not trying to be heavy-handed even though it’s a heavy topic. The subject matter isn't new and it's not meant to be. I’m just presenting it in my voice.

Complex: You mentioned this being a reaction to things you saw on the news.

Todd James: It's both the events and the method of the way it's delivered. “Shock and awe” sounds like an energy drink. It's a packaged, focus-grouped war built to sell in a way that seems less horrible than it is. The language and the candy-coated news graphics remove us from the reality.

Complex: And you're debuting a new animated short at this show?

Todd James: Yeah. I'm still thinking about the title, it might just be the title of the show. I just wanted to make a new piece of animation with the same visual language I'm using in the paintings. A lot of what I'm presenting is like a horrible cartoon, so animation is a great vehicle.

Complex: So any parting comments about the exhibit?

Todd James: Yeah, we made a great catalog book for the show and Jonathen Lethem wrote the intro. People I’ve shown the work to have had a positive response to the paintings so far and I'm really excited for people to see it all as a whole.

“Chaos” by REAS

N.E.R.D. & Lupe Fiasco Cover Our Aug/Sept Issue!

bfred — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:08:48 +0000

CLICK HERE for a large version of the N.E.R.D. cover. CLICK HERE for a large version of the Lupe cover.

This year for Complex’s annual “Style & Design” collector’s edition issue, we set out to fuse the worlds of music and art in a way that had never been done. On one cover, we paired N.E.R.D. with KAWS, the graffiti icon-turned-art world darling who also happens to be one of Pharrell’s favorite designers. And on the other cover, Lupe Fiasco teamed up with another graf God'Todd “REAS” James'to create an outrageous image of the Chi-Town superstar sitting on the sun.

In addition to the covers, KAWS and REAS painted over even more photos of the musicians for the features inside the book. CLICK HERE to see the full story with N.E.R.D. and HERE for the full Lupe story. Check back on Monday for the other side of our August/September issue'two sexy-ass covers with Cassie (that’s 4 total, if you’re counting), along with a titillating series of videos from her shoot that are sure to have the 'net going nuts. After the jump, check out four videos from the N.E.R.D./Lupe shoots, including an interview with KAWS.

N.E.R.D. Cover: Behind The Scenes Video:

KAWS Talks N.E.R.D. Collabo:

Lupe Cover: Behind The Scenes Video:

Lupe Talks Style & Design (w/ REAS):

Todd James ‘And Sons’

complex — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:00:29 +0000

Last week we showed ya the sold out “War Party” print that Todd James aka REAS created, and so this time around we figured we’d highlight another item from the vandal turned hustla-artist that you have little chance of getting your hands on. He designed this tee for an obscure streetwear brand called “And Sons” that we never heard of, but will guess is based somewhere in Europe.

[12ozprophet]

Mission Accomplished: Todd James’ ‘War Party’ Print Sells Out

complex — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:30:23 +0000

Todd James aka REAS moves art like drugs. The artist who used to upgrade public property with his paint, designed this new print dubbed “War Party.” We’re actually hoping you don’t like it too much cause the damn thing is already sold out. All 150 of the signed/numbered seven color prints, that were selling for a cool $300 and measured 22×29 inches, have been purchased'which is good news for James and those lucky enough to get ‘em, crap news for the rest of us.

[SlamxHype]