Every week we spotlight the best art drops by notable artists, galleries, museums and contemporary art platforms across the globe. Listed items typically encompass limited edition artworks, prints, collectible figures, collaborative merchandise and more.
For this week’s installment: Tom Sachs to release NIKECRAFT Transitions collection, Adam Lister and Sergio Tacchini unveil collaborative POWER sneaker, Joyce Pensato joins forces with Case Studyo on limited edition Snowball Mickey sculpture, Paddle8 launches charitable auction with Learn and Skate, and Japanese art collective Karimoku drop a new wooden BE@RBRICK with Medicom Toy.
View the list below.
Tom Sachs x NIKECRAFT “Transitions” Collection
Nike
Release Date: April 27 at select stockists in Japan Release Price: TBC
Nike recently teased its upcoming NIKECRAFT apparel line with Tom Sachs. The first item to debut in the duo’s “Transitions” collection is a transformative poncho that was crafted using the same Dyneema®️ fabric observed on the Mars Yard Overshoe and the Trinity case that boasts the ceramic beads made by Sachs’ studio. Completing the design is a fidlock buckle that enables seamless closure with printed graphics at the rear that relays the item was made in Vietnam. The poncho was made in close collaboration with Jarrett Reynolds, Nike’s senior design director for special apparel projects. Look out for the collection to launch on April 27 in Japan that coincides with his major “Tea Ceremony” exhibition.
Adam Lister x Sergio Tacchini POWER Model
Adam Lister
Release Date: Releasing this week at Footlocker Europe Release Price: $111 USD a pair
Neo-cubist artist Adam Lister recently teamed up with Sergio Tacchini to reinterpret one of the designer’s high-end tennis sneakers from his Fall/Winter 2019 collection. Using the slightly chunky POWER model as the canvas, Lister’s trademark 8-bit motifs are hand-painted across the silhouette in blue and red tones. The shoe was entirely crafted using leather and predominantly coated in colored nylon on the uppers. Topping off the design is Lister’s signature engraved on the heel caps with Sergio Tacchini’s label stitched on the lateral side portions.
Joyce Pensato x Case Studyo Snowball Mickey Sculpture Edition
Case Studyo
Release Date: Available now Release Price: Contact NANZUKA@nug.jp
NANZUKA gallery in Tokyo is currently hosting an exhibition entitled “The No Pants Fizz Show” that spotlights the seminal works of influential American artist, Joyce Pensato. To commemorate the presentation, Pensato teamed up with Case Studyo on the launch of a limited sculpture edition named Snowball Mickey. Standing tall at 25 centimeters, the artwork centers upon the artist’s trademark heavy metal mouse character in a bronze and black platina finish. The three-dimensional collectible is a fact of Pensato’s ongoing transmutations of iconic American cartoons. One 25 editions have been made with four artist proofs.
Paddle8 x Learn and Skate Charity Auction
Paddle8
Release Date: Available for bidding on Paddle8’s website Release Price: $300-$2,250 USD
Leading dealer of Contemporary and Urban Art, Paddle8, has teamed up with the nonprofit organization Learn and Skate on a charitable auction. A majority of the lots consists of artists skate decks made by 1UP Crew, Jerome Bosh, Liard Arnaud, David Augustyn, and more. Other notable pieces include Tristan Eaton’s The Son (Self Portrait), Polo Garat’s Slow boys photograph, and more. Proceeds from the sale will go to benefit the cultural center located in a yort neighborhood of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Karimoku x Medicom Toy African Rosewood BE@RBRICK Collectible
Medicom Toy
Release Date: Available now at Medicom Toy’s PLUS outpost in Shibuya Release Price: ¥138,240 JPY (approximately $1,235 USD)
Karimoku and Medicom Toy have reconnected for another wooden BE@RBRICK edition. This time, the duo has crafted the collectible using the sturdy African Ovangkol. The aforesaid wood grain is coveted by guitar manufacturers as it boasts similar tonal properties with rosewood. This 400% BE@RBRICK stands at 11-inches-tall and is currently available for purchase in limited quantities.
Medicom Toy Plus
4 Chome-12-10 Jingumae
Shibuya, Tokyo
150-0001
Japan
G-Shock has enlisted boxing giant Everlast for the release of a Bluetooth-equipped GBA-800 G-SQUAD. Serving an all-red body — a reference to Everlast’s boxing heritage — the watch will perform as a fitness-first timepiece which tracks the wearer’s exercise in a phone-connected log.
The special-edition GBA-800 features a smattering of Everlast branding seen printed on the dial and strap and engraved into the watch’s rear case. The watch will calculate calories, track steps and measure time and data from the wearer’s physical activities, which will be interchangeably displayed on the retro digital screen.
Completing the boxing glove-themed look is a red and white co-branded tin case, which is adorned with the fitting “Choice of Champions” slogan.
Priced at ¥19,500 JPY (approx. $175 USD), the Everlast x G-Shock GBA-800 G-SQUAD is set for a release in June 2019.
Jordan Brand is offering its warmest congratulations to the Class of 2019 with the Air Jordan 13 “Cap and Gown.” Similar to its Jordan 11predecessor from 2018, this silhouette follows the all-black motif, dressed in a sophisticated black suede upper and additional black patent overlays. The brand pays homage to graduation honor cords with reimagined laces, topped off with the debossed combination of the Jumpman and 23 logos by the ankle.
The Air Jordan 13 “Cap and Gown” drops April 27 on Nike SNKRS and select retailers for $200 USD.
Dressed with a bevy of painstaking details the Nike Air Force 1 “Ukiyo-E” showcases a large red circle underneath both the medial and lateral Swoosh insignias, representing the flag of Japan. Within the Swooshes Japanese wave patterns and clouds all rendered with rich colors are featured. Each pair is unique, with art applied to each model by hand, resulting in subtle differences between the sneakers. To make the shoe slightly more low-key, the illustration-rich false tongue crafted from Japanese indigo-dyed fabrics can be removed at the wearer’s bequest.
You can pre-order your own pair of handmade Nike Air Force 1 “Ukiyo-E”, limited to 20 pairs, over at Simple Union’s site now for $2,980 HKD (approximately $380 USD). Deliveries will then be sent out in June.
Industrial designer Shane Chen has reimagined the everyday computer mouse with mid-century design. Fully inspired by the classic Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames, Chen approaches the Lounge Mouse from the perspective of furniture design.
The circuitry and sensors are housed in a plastic casing, wrapped in luxurious black leather minus the scroll-wheel. Much like its source of inspiration, the whole black unit then sits stylishly on a molded plywood base, featuring a cutout on the bottom for a black plastic panel holding the on/off switch, battery compartment, and optical sensors. Inscribed on this bottom plate is also the line “A Tribute to Charles and Ray Eames,” a nod to the legendary designers and their work.
The Lounge Mouse design is currently purely a concept, so there are no working prototypes yet. To learn more about Chen’s concept, head over to the designer’s website or Instagram page.
Louis Vuitton releases a multi-color logo New Wave Bumbag for Summer 2019. Mixing heritage with modern flair, the New Wave waist pack accessory is constructed out of premium calf leather and is lined with microfiber cloth material.
The quilted surface of the waist pack is punctuated with a gold LV emblem while the large zipper pull tab sees multi-color lettering. Other details include gold hardware for size adjustments, a single monogram stitch pattern at the back, and a gold-stamped leather patch on the interior. Priced at $1,820 USD, the 2019 Summer New Wave Bumbag is available now at Louis Vuitton’s online store.
Last September, Donald Glover and adidas announced their partnership to the world, and now today, the two have unveiled their first collaborative project from the fittingly-ambiguous series dubbed “Donald Glover Presents.”
The first drop consists of three pairs of adidas Originals kicks: Continental 80, Nizza and Lacombe. Each model comes dressed in an off-white, pre-distressed canvas construction with full-white accents and sole units. The Nizza and Lacombe however feature a pop of color, where the former has white/navy laces, and the latter sports a seafoam green on its laces and Three Stripes motif. Additional details include uneven stitching, inside-out golden eyestays, frayed edges, moth insole graphics, and a custom 3-Stripe mark that evokes hand-painting. Lastly, each pair comes packaged in an inside-out adidas Originals box that opens with a tear strip and comes replete with three sets of custom shoelaces designed to fringe with wear.
According to the accompanying press release, “With a focus on the personal narrative that worn-in sneakers can hold, and the wealth of experiences they bear, the collection is inspired by subtle imperfections.” So the message is simple: wear your kicks and experience life!
“Rich is a concept,” said Donald Glover. “With this project, I wanted to encourage people to think about how their stories can be told on their feet. Value isn’t quantified by what you wear, rather the experiences from them. And you make the decision on what works for you, you live through your own lens. The partnership for me is about being able to exemplify what doing your own thing truly looks and feels like.”
1 of 15
adidas
2 of 15
adidas
3 of 15
adidas
4 of 15
adidas
5 of 15
adidas
6 of 15
adidas
7 of 15
adidas
8 of 15
adidas
9 of 15
adidas
10 of 15
adidas
11 of 15
adidas
12 of 15
adidas
13 of 15
adidas
14 of 15
adidas
15 of 15
adidas
Having hosted a big reveal last night in Los Angeles, the first of many drops from Donald Glover and adidas is set to hit global retailers and adidas.com on April 26. It doesn’t stop there: Donald also produced five mini films with comedic actress Mo’Nique and skater Na-Kel Smith; check them out below.
If you haven’t already peeped it, go watch Donald Glover and Rihanna’s film Guava Island now.
We now learn that this is a Japan-exclusive for HUMAN MADE’s Kyoto store opening and that this release is also a collaborative effort between long-time adidas partner, Pharrell Williams. The sneaker deviates from HUMAN MADE’s red heart logo and opts for a blue version instead. The blue heart is a nice touch of contrast on the toes as the majority of the sneaker comes in cream and white, with only the Three Stripes’ logo at the tongue, and hits of 3M in the laces and eyestay adding to the differentiation of color.
Those located in Japan can expect these to drop on May 3 of this year.
