Kaws x DosEquis

Looks like the "Worlds Most Interesting Man" is going to be drinking his beer with a new limited edition label done by Kaws. Being that the Dos Equis logo consit of two "X"s anyway it only made sense for Kaws to use his signature "XX" for the label. There is no word on when this limited edition label will start being used but I will keep you posted. Very Cool!




Source: HighSnobiety

Kaws x Disney - Pinocchio & Jiminy Cricket Figures

What we have here is hopefully a first look at an upcoming Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket figure from Kaws in collaboration with Disney (and of course Medicom Toy). This was premiered at Kaws recent museum exhibition at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut. Unfortunately the piece was listed under "Collection of Artist" at the time of the exhibition. Only time will tell if this will ever be put on sale to the public. Either way the toy itself is Very Cool!

Source: HighSnobiety

UPDATE:

This Kaws toy WILL be released this year (2010) pending no production errors. Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket will come together as a set. I cant wait...Very Cool!




Source: HighSnobiety

Brooklyn Museum Exhibition - Andy Warhol: The Last Decade

For the few of you who are unfamiliar with the work of 1970s and 80s American artist Andy Warhol, starting this weekend, the Brooklyn Museum will be hosting an exhibition showcasing artwork from the Last Decade of his life.

Encompassing nearly fifty works, the exhibition reveals the artist’s vitality, energy, and renewed spirit of experimentation. During this time Warhol produced more works, in a considerable number of series and on a vastly larger scale, than at any other point in his forty-year career. It was a decade of great artistic development for him, during which a dramatic transformation of his style took place alongside the introduction of new techniques.

The exhibition runs from June 18th until September 12th, 2010. It will be located on the Robert E. Blum Gallery on the 1st Floor and in the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing on the 5th Floor. If you are in the Brooklyn NY area make sure you Check it out if you have the time. Very Cool!

Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy (at Washington Ave)
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
718-638-5000

Below is some artwork you may recognize from Andy Warhol

BMW x Jeff Koons M3 GT2 Art Car

Jeff Koons has collaborated with BMW to create the 17th edition of their Art Car. This time using the M3 GT2 as its silhouette, the car was unveiled in the Centre Pompidou yesterday. This was the same venue where Roy Lichtenstein first presented and signed his Art Car back in 1977. The car will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France on June 12th and 13th.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures du Mans) is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance, the race has been held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France.

As part of his creative process, Jeff Koons collected images of race cars, related graphics, vibrant colors, speed and explosions. Then by working with an actual 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) models of the BMW M3 GT2, Koons was able to simulate the application of the graphic (seen below) to the car’s surfaces and evaluate it from all angles.

The Koons car number, “79”, pays tribute to the 1979 Andy Warhol car. The Warhol car was assigned the number “76,” an homage to the 1976 Frank Stella car, both of which raced at Le Mans. The home of all BMW Art Cars is the BMW Museum in Munich. Starting in September, Koons’ 17th BMW Art Car will be presented there together with some of its predecessors.

Under Koons’ direct guidance and supervision, his BMW Art Car was produced in association with a team of BMW engineers and designers at Schmid Design, near Munich. The challenge to create the BMW Art Car had to do with using a light material and a design that would not interfere with the race car’s aerodynamics and weight.

Since there was only a two month window between the first design sketches and the Paris world premiere, timing was also an issue. This is why digital print on car wrapping vinyl was used, covered by a double clear-coating to bring out the color. The end result looks amazing. I'd love to be able to see it in person. Very Cool.

Bonus: Andy Warhol's 1979 BMW M1 Art Car


Source: BMW Blog

Riva x Marc Newson "Aquarama" Speedboat

Australian born Industrial artist Marc Newson, best known for his furniture and collaborations with G-Star clothing brand has collaborated with Riva Boats to create a special edition speedboat with a limited run of 22.
The Aquarama infused Riva's attributes while keeping within his own signature style. The boat features a streamlined instrument panel, a wrap-around laminated glass windshield, separated driver and passenger seats, handles and hooks that disappear when not in use, a re-imagined stern and state-of-the-art transmission.
The boat will be available in September 2010 through NYC's Gagosian Gallery

Banksy is Back in NY

Banksy is back in NY for his latest leg of his North American Tour. I didnt really blog about his other stops in Boston, LA, San Francisco, Detroit, Chicago or Toronto but this is NEW YORK, its my hometown so I had to share. Banksy's 1st stop is on Cedar Street between Greenwich and Trinity. Stop by and check it out in person if you are in the area. I look forward to more. Very Cool.



*UPDATE - 2 New Pieces Have Popped Up in NY

SoHo, on Bleeker at Bowery

DUMBO at the corner of Water St. and Jay St.

Source: Highsnobiety

Art on Deck

One of my favorite past times is to take a trip to the museum or a gallery and just look at all types of artwork. It always interest me to find new and appealing art. Sometimes I would love to be able to take some of the art at these galleries how with me however some of these pieces can range well into the millions of dollars. My next best alternative is to find artwork from the artist that will fit into my budget, and believe it or not some of the most relevant artist and photographers of our time have featured their work on skateboard decks. Here's a look at some skateboard decks by a few incredible artist that have caught my attention

Damien Hirst - Best known for his "For The Love of God" Diamond encrusted scull, "The Physical impossibility of death in the mind of someone living" Tiger shark suspended in formaldehyde and "LSD" series of reoccurring dots. Damian also set the world record for the most expensive piece of artwork ever sold at $198 million









Kaws-The Brooklyn based graffiti artist best known for his signature "XX" has work with everyone from musicians Pharrell Williams and Kanye Wesst to Kiehls lotion and New York Magazine on special edition products and paintings that can cost well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars





Takashi Murakami-Japanese born artist who is best known for his sculptures and "Superflat" form of artwork has worked on special edition bags and prints for Louis Vuitton recently had a sold out exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and also has artwork that cost well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars





Terry Richardson - The NYC based photographer best known for his realism in photography, void of photoshopping or even made up models, his pictures have been used is almost every fashion publication relevant right now.





Marilyn Minter - The NYC based female photographer often uses sexually erotic undertones in her photography that usually has some type of "dirty" feel to the final product. Her work has been used for various high fashion labels.






Jeff Koons - The American artist best known for his giant reproductions of balloon animals made out of steel with mirror finish surfaces set the 2007 record for most expensive piece of artwork for an astonishing $23.6 Million