CREATOR DIARIES
BARBARA KRUGER
DEBORAH KASS
DERRICK ADAMS
ROB PRUITT
DATE: NOV 2019
CATEGORY: COLLABORATIONS
HOTSOX teamed up with Art Production Fund on this vibrant collaboration, partnering with influential living artists. APF puts a spotlight on contemporary art, commissioning and producing ambitious public projects that span all art forms.
Barbara Kruger, “Belief+Doubt,” 2012. © Barbara Kruger. Photo: Cathy Carver
BARBARA KRUGER
@barbarakruger45
Most known for her black-and-white photographs with overlaid, declarative captions, Barbara Kruger is a conceptual artist based between New York and Los Angeles working with video, performance, and imagery. Kruger’s art addresses the cultural constructions of power, identity, language and sexuality, often pairing found photographs with pithy and assertive text that challenges the viewer.
“I try to deal with the complexities of power and social life, but as far as the visual presentation goes I purposely avoid a high degree of difficulty"
— Barbara Kruger
Kruger’s career spans decades, having shown work in galleries and institutions around the world from LACMA to MOMA. Her signature style was the influence for the Supreme logo, which James Jebbia, founder of Supreme, admittedly ripped off. A prominent feminist still making work today, Barbara Kruger is a living legend.
Photo courtesy of deborahkass.com
DEBORAH KASS
@debkass
Deborah Kass (born 1952) is an American artist whose work explores the intersection of pop culture, art history, and the construction of self. Deborah Kass works in mixed media, and is most recognized for her paintings, prints, photography, sculptures and neon lighting installations. Kass’s early work mimics and reworks signature styles of iconic male artists of the 20th century including Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Ed Ruscha. Kass’s technique of appropriation is a critical commentary on the intersection of social power relations, identity politics, and the historically dominant position of male artists in the art world.
“I use history as a readymade. I use the language of painting to talk about value and meaning. How has art history constructed power and meaning? How has it reflected the culture at large? How does art and the history of art describe power?"
— Deborah Kass
Her work is in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, The Solomon Guggenheim Museum, The Jewish Museum, The Museum of Fine Art, Boston, The Cincinnati Museum, The New Orleans Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Fogg/ Harvard Museum, as well as other museums and private collections. Her monumental sculpture OY/YO in Brooklyn Bridge Park become an instant icon, and is now installed in front of the Brooklyn Museum. Kass has been a Senior Critic in the Yale University M.F.A.Painting Program.
Information courtesy of Kavi Gupta gallery
Photo courtesy of derrickadams.com
DERRICK ADAMS
@derrickadamsny
Based in New York, Derrick Adams is a multidisciplinary artist working in performance, video, sound and 2D and 3D realms. Adam’s diverse practice focuses on the fragmentation and manipulation of structure and surface, exploring self image and forward projection. Much of Adams’ work explore topics of Black identity, often referring to patterns, images, and themes of Black culture in America.
“I realized once you enter the circuit of the professional space, people look to you to keep making that thing, if that thing was well received. But if you make a bunch of different things, you can have way more reach. If I’m making video, sculpture, and collage, I can have different shows based on this output while still keeping the concepts intact...”
— Derrick Adams interview with Juxtapoz
His exhibition and performance highlights include: Greater New York ’05, MoMA PS1; Open House: Working In Brooklyn ’04, Brooklyn Museum of Art; PERFORMA ’05, ’13, ’15; Radical Presence & The Shadows Took Shape, Studio Museum in Harlem; The Channel, Brooklyn Academy of Music; and is in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Birmingham Museum of Art.
Information courtesy of derrickadams.com
Photo courtesy of robpruitt.com
ROB PRUITT
@robpruitt5000
Rob Pruitt is an American post-conceptual artist. His mediums include painting, installation, and sculpture among others. Born 1964 in Washington, DC, Pruitt studied at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, and Parsons School of Design in New York.
“The opportunity for people to live with something that compels them, something that starts big conversations about life’s more difficult questions is a great opportunity,”
— Rob Pruitt Interview with Dezeen
Pruitt’s work has been included in numerous museum exhibitions, including a recent exhibition at the Kunsthalle Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (curated by Daniel Baumann) in 2018; at the Brant Foundation in Greenwich, CT (2015), a 2013 mid-career retrospective at the Aspen Art Museum, solo exhibitions at Dallas Contemporary (2011), Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit (2015), Freiburg Kunstverein (2012); Le Consortium, Dijon (2002); and group shows such as “Empire State” at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Rome (2012), “Pop Life” at Tate Modern (2009), and “Mapping the Studio” at Punta Della Dogana/Palazzo Grassi, Venice (2009). In 2009, he debuted the “Rob Pruitt’s Art Awards,” at the Guggenheim Museum, an award show for the art world fashioned after the Oscars. In 2011, he was commissioned by the Public Art Fund to install “The Andy Monument,” a highly polished chrome sculpture of Andy Warhol (replete with shopping bags) in New York’s Union Square near the site of Warhol’s Factory.
Information courtesy of Gavin Brown’s Enterprise
In support of the arts, HOTSOX made a donation to Art Production Fund, integrating art into everyday life.
Art Production Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to commissioning and producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences and expanding awareness through contemporary art.
CREATOR DIARIES
RICHARD HAINES
FASHION ILLUSTRATOR
DATE: OCT 2019
CATEGORY: CREATOR DIARIES
HOTSOX partnered with legendary illustrator, Richard Haines, to create a capsule collection featuring his iconic designs. We sat down with Haines to get a glimpse into his creative world.
Richard Haines self portrait.
HOW DID YOU MAKE THE SHIFT FROM ILLUSTRATOR, TO FASHION DESIGNER, AND THEN BACK TO ILLUSTRATOR?
I moved to NYC in the 70s thinking I would be a hot shot illustrator. I never formally studied fashion illustration, and I quickly realized I didn’t have the training and confidence of a professional. My love of fashion led me to design, where I was fortunate enough to work with incredible people like Perry Ellis, Bill Blass and Calvin Klein. It wasn’t until the economic meltdown of 2008 that I was unemployed and aged out of the design field that I discovered my first love - fashion illustration. I started a blog called ‘What I Saw Today’ and that was an incredible platform that allowed me to showcase my work and develop my career as an illustrator.
Vogue Paris 70s
WHY DO YOU THINK THE FASHION WORLD PREFERRED ILLUSTRATION OVER PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SO LONG?
When I was a kid every big department store advertised in newspapers, and each store had a signature style that was illustration. Not only was it a kind of branding, but illustration was easier to reproduce. It wasn’t until the 70s that stores like Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor switched from illustration to photos, and that pretty much killed off illustration. It was almost extinct by the late 70s.
HOW DOES CONTEMPORARY FASHION EMBRACE THE ART OF ILLUSTRATION TODAY?
As there are more brands, and each brand is trying to stand out, illustration has become relevant again. Instagram has played a huge part - there is more of everything, photo and illustration!
A LOT OF YOUR WORK DEALS IN PORTRAITURE — WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO CAPTURE?
I look for the essence of a person. People are complex, fascinating beings. I’m looking to find that and get it on paper.
WHAT ABOUT ILLUSTRATION IS SO ALLURING TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TO DESIGNERS IN THE FASHION COMMUNITY?
I believe illustration presents another point of view to the designer. Illustration can exaggerate in ways that photography can’t — the sleeve can become enormous, the skirt sweeps off the page. It becomes a kind of drama that captures what the designer was thinking.
WHICH ARTISTS ARE YOU INSPIRED BY?
So many! Off the top of my head, the illustrators from the 30s and 40s: Bemelman, Christian Bérard, Beaton, Eric, all incredible artists. And I love the illustrator Antonio Lopez. He made illustration relevant again in the 60s. Painters like Hockney, Matisse, and Toulouse Lautrec are always inspiring and so many more.
Richard Haines' Studio.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ALBUM COVER?
The Andy Warhol designed cover for the Rolling Stones album Sticky Fingers. The jeans with the working zipper, now that’s iconic!
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCLUDED ON THE SOCKS FROM YOUR COLLECTION? DO THEY REPRESENT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?
The group scenes are inspired by people hanging out here in Bushwick, and I love the image of the guy putting on the sock. The person is no one in particular, but I think putting an image of a guy getting dressed on a sock is kind of meta! There is a fashion drawing from the 60s in repeat that I love. It’s super exciting to see my work translate from paper to knits, and I’m so impressed with the great job HOTSOX did with the execution.
NEW YORKERS WALK EVERYWHERE — HOW DO SOCKS FACTOR INTO WHAT YOU WEAR WHEN YOU STEP OUT?
I walk for miles every day in New York. It’s wonderful exercise, but more importantly it feeds my heart and soul and eyes. When I walk I observe, and when I observe I want to draw. If I don’t have the right socks, if I don’t feel great and comfortable, then I’m distracted from the beauty of New York City!
CREATOR DIARIES
BRITT THEODORA
STYLIST
DATE: SEPT 2019
CATEGORY: CREATOR DIARIES
HOTSOX sat down with Britt Theodora, celebrity stylist known for exceptional accessorizing and perfect pops of color. Take a peek inside Britt’s covetable closet and see how she pairs HOTSOX with her favorite looks.
Britt paired the Flamingo Embroidery sock
with a pink baby doll dress.
DESCRIBE YOUR CLOSET IN 3 WORDS.
EDITED, RELAXED, CHIC.
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS INSPIRE YOUR CREATIVITY.
I am constantly inspired by my surroundings. Whether that is during my morning commutes on the subway, colleagues on set and foreign places. I love observing what people around me are wearing and what inspires their wardrobe choices.
WHAT DO YOU THINK CREATIVITY LOOKS LIKE / WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Creativity looks like a group of people collaborating together. Most beautiful pieces of art, music and fashion are constructed by a group of people working together.
WHAT OR WHO ARE YOU INSPIRED BY?
I am so incredibly inspired by my clients. A lot of them are pioneers in their industries and I find it so motivating to learn what drives them.
NAME THE GREATEST ALBUM COVER OF ALL TIME.
Negro Swan by Blood Orange.
TELL ABOUT YOUR BOLDEST FASHION CHOICE – A SINGULAR MOMENT OR AN EVERYDAY DECISION.
I like to be bold in my accessories. My wardrobe is pretty uniform so having fun with a pair of bright colored shoes or colorful bag is how I like to spice up my outfit.
EXPLAIN YOUR IDEAL INTERGALACTIC GETAWAY – WHICH UNIVERSE AND WITH WHOM?
I’d love to live in a universe where everyone can fly so I can easily see all of my friends and family while living anywhere in the world.
IS YOUR JOB JUST ABOUT CLOTHES OR IS IT MORE THAN THAT?
I always tell people styling is 90 percent strategy and 10 percent creative. My job requires a lot of prep which includes conversations with designers, budget planning, shipping coordinating and organization. So yes, so much more than clothes itself. Thats the fun part!
Power suit brings the Flush sock into play.
The Neon sock adds a pop of color to Britt’s summer whites.
WHY DID YOU GET IN THIS BUSINESS?
Since I was 12 years old I slept with a Teen Vogue under my pillow. I remember checking the mail every day until the next month’s issue was delivered to my door. I would then photocopy the previous month’s issue and tape it on my wall. Fashion has been a part of my life for almost as long as I can remember!
GIVE US YOUR BEST SOCK PUN.
I used to have a few jokes about pairs of matching socks but I’ve lost one.
It was the 1970’s and a new era roared across America. The spirit of individuality and endless possibility took hold.
Inspired by the excitement of the day and the bold fashion statements of the moment - hot pants and Mary Janes - we brought creativity to the most mundane product: socks. HOTSOX injected creativity into a standard wardrobe essential with an added dose of style.
The brainchild of a pioneering album cover artist and a designer, HOTSOX was born from the creative union of music, art, style and pop culture––and in the process created the fashion sock category that redefined the way we walk through the world. HOTSOX became a canvas that highlighted the zeitgeist of the moment for decades to come.
Today the gatekeeper of fashionable feet, HOTSOX continues this style forward tradition of self-expression. Reflective of modern culture, HOTSOX inspires individuality through contemporary designs, each knit with superior yarns for optimum comfort. In the age of nostalgia, HOTSOX remains an expressive experiment for the bold new voices of creatives across every creed.
