ART FOR SALE ON ARTBYSKIP.MYSHOPIFY.COM & AT SKIP-SMITH.FINEARTAMERICA.COM

 

ART WORLD:

Emerging figurative painter Evan Sharma is launching the CovART Challenge an interactive campaign and auction with the goal of donating 250,000 meals to children in Africa whose food supply and education has been impacted by COVID-19. Sharma learned about the culture of Africa from his grandparents who were born there and decided to use his talents to assist in helping those in need. He previously raised over $60,000 for various charities and recently decided to elevate assistance and visibility for African children with this latest initiative.

“To me, helping other people is the most important thing someone can do. I am incredibly grateful for these world-class artists who have agreed to participate in the challenge. It is all about trying to make a difference in the lives of children who need our help,” said the 17-year-old Sharma. “I am also thrilled to collaborate with Flying Kites and HATCH on this project.”

The campaign will start with Sharma auctioning off a portrait of Paul Newman entitled Drive Carefully Me, then inviting 20 other leading artists to do the same. The two-week challenge will end with the release of Sharma’s 46664 – a portrait of the iconic South African leader, Nelson Mandela.

Sharma’s works are currently sitting in private collections located in NYC, San Francisco, LA, Canada, and the Middle East. Head to the official CovART Challenge website to learn more.NIGO has teamed up with JINS to introduce a new eyewear line called JINS & SUN.

Under NIGO’s direction, the new eyewear line has been produced by manufacturer JINS. NIGO’s concept of the line was summed in two words: “EVERYDAY EYEWEAR.” There aren’t many details yet on exactly how the sunglasses will look, but a teaser for the upcoming release shows two pairs of glasses with minimal designs — one with thick blue frames and another with sleek, clear frames. The sunglasses will be displayed at a pop-up being billed as “APT.JINS & SUN,” where admission will be limited to 35 groups per day. 

NIGO’s upcoming eyewear line JINS & SUN will be available at the “APT.JINS & SUN” pop-up in Tokyo from March 24 – 30, followed by a wider release on April 1 on JINS’ website — prices have yet to be confirmed.

APT.JINS & SUN
OPRCT, 1-29-10 Uehara
Shibuya, TokyoHUMAN MADE head honcho NIGO is finally set to make his return to the music biz in partnership with label Victor Victor, the home of nearly every Pop Smoke release. Having not released any music under his own name in nearly two decades, it’s a major move for NIGO.

NIGO confirmed his forthcoming album in an Instagram post that also showcased his bespoke Victor Victor chenille-patched varsity jacket, worn in front of a mixing board below some Futura artwork with HUMAN MADE x Airinum mask on proud display. Elsewhere on IG, Ibrahim “Ebro” Darden showed off a custom Victor Victor rug realized with an identical motif to NIGO’s new jacket.

According to his post, NIGO is releasing the album on Steven Victor‘s Victor Victor — interestingly, NIGO has apparently signed with parent company Universal Music Group, though his record is launching through Victor Victor. Regardless, nothing else has been revealed about the deal, his future plans or even the forthcoming record other than the fact that it’s “coming soon.” In the meantime, it’s worth noting that NIGO’s lengthy career has never strayed far from music.

With plenty of singles, compilations and appearances to his name, NIGO’s musical output is almost as impressive as his fashion career. Though he hasn’t issued anything under his own name since the early ’00s, NIGO has since managed younger groups that include BILLIE IDLE and, of course, the TERIYAKI BOYZ, with whom NIGO also DJ’d. Not to mention, the HUMAN MADE founder is famously friendly with musicians like UNKLE‘s James Lavelle, Cornelius and, of course, Pharrell, who offered some explosive emojis on NIGO’s Instagram post.

As the streetwear world waits for more news of NIGO’s new album, consider preparing by picking up a pair of premium earphones cosigned by NIGO’s mentor, Hiroshi Fujiwara.Hiroshi Fujiwara has been hard at work lately by putting together many a collaboration over the past couple of months with the likes of RAMIDUS, Playboy Labs, ‘Cyberpunk 2077‘ and HYPEBEAST. And now his highly-revered fragment design label is beefing up its portfolio this month for a Powerbeats Pro project made in partnership with Beats.

If one were to describe this new product in a single word, one can argue that “minimalism” sums it up the best. Here, the Japanese musician and designer calls upon his signature monochromatic design language to cover the Powerbeats Pro earphones with a full black finish, only distributing small notes of complements through its branded embellishments. On these wireless ear pieces, the left side is graced with fragment’s lightning bolt logo while the right side features “FRGMNT” lettering, both of which are printed in a crisp white.

The earphone’s charging case also comes wrapped with a stealthy skin, and comes accessorized with another lightning bolt logo up front and center.

Additional details to point out include that of its sweat and water resistance, as well as its listening hours which amount up to nine hours when fully charged.

Interested in copping? These will be releasing via Apple and Dover Street Market on January 29 for $249.95 USD.

NEW THINGS:

Hasbro Pulse is back with another collectible Star Wars toy, this time releasing The Black Series First Order Stormtrooper helmet. While it has been just a month since they released the red Captain Cardinal helmet, it is actually this black and white version that is synonymous with the film franchise.

This First Order version features a premium build with an adjustable fit and a voice transformer that automatically distorts the wearer’s voice to sound like a First Order Stormtrooper. This helmet requires three AA batteries for power and can be pre-ordered now over at Hasbro Pulse for a price of $99.99 USD. Delivery is expected to take place in the Spring of this year. 

Back in 2014, Louis Vuitton (PARIS:MC.PA -1.13%) was under the reign of Marc Jabobsand it was celebrating its 160th anniversary. In honor of this, Jacobs and the house asked some of the most legendary figures in the fashion world to participate in “Icon and Iconoclast: Celebrating Monogram,” in which designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Louboutin, and Rei Kawakubo put their own spin on the classic monogram and LV bags.

Today, Louis Vuitton has announced the return of Kawakubo’s “Bag With Holes,”appearing in two sizes in black leather. Alongside the original version that appears in MM size, there will also be a slightly smaller PM size that features a smaller strap so that it can be used more like a crossbody bag, something which the house’s current artistic director Virgil Abloh has made a signature for the brand.

The soon-releasing “Bag With Holes” is made from supple cowhide leather that’s fully grained and features an all-over debossed monogram pattern alongside the Kawakubo-designed holes. This design is quintessentially COMME des GARÇONS, and originals of this bag can fetch tens of thousands of dollars on the second-hand market.

Louis Vuitton’s “Bag With Holes” will be sold via a lottery through the house’s personal LINE account, which will run from March 1 to March 7. More information can be found on the LV LINE account. Additionally, Louis Vuitton is also holding an exhibition at the address below, showcasing 160-plus years of its heritage including the 2014 and reissued “Bag With Holes.”

Elsewhere in the world of archives, Slam Jam’s Luca Benini has opened up his 30,000 piece collection to the public.

LOUIS VUITTON &
Venue: 6-35-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo jing
Date: March 19th — May 16th
Time: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m. (Last admission 7:30 p.m.)Seiko’s GPS-connected, solar-powered worldtimer, the Astron, has looked to the adventurous mascot of Hideo Kojima’s games studio, Kojima Productions, for inspiration.

Ludens is the exoskeleton-clad explorer that Kojima uses to represent his studio and exhibits many of the themes of its smash-hit 2020 game, Death Stranding, that follows a courier through a hostile landscape.

Seiko has imbued its new SSH097 with aesthetic cues from Ludens’ suit. The interwoven pattern on the dial comes from the carbon face mask worn by the character while the golden accents and interlocking sub dials reflect the construction of the suit itself.

The studio logo appears at the nine o’clock position while ‘From Sapiens to Ludens’ is engraved on the side of the bezel at the six o’clock.

The watch drops in June priced $3,300 USD and will be a limited run of 1,000 pieces.

In other watch news, London watch dealer sources one of four platinum Daniels Anniversary watches ever made.

NEW WHIPS:

Kuhl Racing’s prize-winning 24k-gold-chrome 2014 Nissan GT-R has just found its way on to showroom of Dubai’s Auto Deals UAE. The shiny supercar made quite the noise when it was unveiled in 2016, revealing that the GT-R carried with a full custom body kit that took master engravers a full year to complete. The raw body panels of this car were first treated to a special chrome finish where it was then finally coated in gold paint.

Modified to make between 850-900 horsepower, the full build sees aftermarket wheels, engine work, an angled rear wing, and the main component, a custom-built full titanium exhaust. With only 6,000 km on the dash, this gold-engraved supercar could be yours for $1.6 million AED (approximately $435,600 USD) which is much lower than its asking price back in 2016 — $1 million USD. Check out the listing for the car over at Auto Deals UAE.California-based restomod workshop Gunther Werks has revamped the ultra-rare 993-generation Porsche 911 Speedster with a fully modernized look.

Covering what used to be the rear seats with a hardtop, the car takes on a much sportier aesthetic thanks to other upgrades including a redesigned front bumper, a decklid featuring an integrated spoiler, and all-new carbon fiber body panels to its weight light. To offset the loss of rigidity, the company installed extra bracing underneath the body, and also added roll hoops in case of a rollover. While the gallery above shows a model with a windshield, those more adventurous can opt for a model without one.

As for power, the current Speedster carries a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine sourced from Rothsport Racing. It’s capable of pushing out 435 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels with the help of a six-speed manual transmission, although Gunther Werks has limited the engine to 7,800 rpm in hopes of maintaining its durability.

For now, Gunther Werks hasn’t revealed any pricing information for the 993 Speedster, but only 25 of them will be made, so those interested should definitely get in touch with the company.Automotive tuning company 1016 Industries follows on from its camouflage-wrapped Lamborghini Urus with an even wilder iteration, introducing the “Green Urnet” as commissioned by Harrison Woodruff.

The Lamborghini Urus seen above features a full carbon fiber widebody kit that’s made using a special and incredibly extensive prepreg process that sees multiple layers of carbon layered over eachother at varying angles. The result creates a “Storm Grey” and “Jade” carbon weave that’s rigid, flexible, and tough which in turn makes for a stronger body kit that can be manipulated to create fluidity throughout the design, thus improving aerodynamics.

Furthermore, lighter and more flexible carbon fiber has been used throughout the interior, reworking elements such as the steering wheel. This is joined by a star light kit woven into the roof panel that lights up the interior like a night sky (similar to that found on a Rolls-Royce for example), while plenty more uniquities have been added all around the car inside-and-out.

On the exterior, you’ll find green details highlighting components such as the brake calipers, while the overall wider stance makes the Urus look as powerful as it is. Indeed, 1016 Industries has tuned the Lambo’s twin-turbo V8 engine to produce over 800 HP, achieved via an engine tune and a significant exhaust upgrade that delivers a menacing and crackling sound alongside flames exiting from the rear.

The 1016 Industries Lamborghini Urus “Green Urnet” is due to be showcased on February 26 at the Race Rally Miami by Woodruff. For those that can’t make it, take a look at the $350,000 USD custom Urus above.Land Rover has just unveiled its most powerful Defender to both its 90 and 110 lineups. The 2022 models of the off-roader can now be fitted with a supercharged V8 engine that produces 518hp and 461lb-ft of torque.

“The introduction of our V8 powertrain adds a new dimension of driving engagement and off-road capability to Defender. Fast and fun to drive, it represents the pinnacle of the Defender family and is as rewarding on the road as it is capable off it,” said David Hemming, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover. “We’ve also broadened the appeal of the entire Defender lineup with new derivatives, option packs and enhanced connectivity, so there really is a Defender for everyone.”

On top of the engine upgrade, other enhancements arrive in the form of exterior badging, a new optional 11.4-inch touchscreen, distinctive quad exhaust tailpipes, 22-inch alloy wheels, Xenon-Blue front brake calipers, a new electronic active rear differential, larger-diameter solid anti-roll bars, bespoke spring and damper rates, and a new Dynamic program called the Terrain Response® system3.

A special Carpathian Edition will also be made available which sees a Carpathian-Grey premium metallic paint job with a Narvik Black roof — all protected with Land Rover Satin Protective Film. On the inside, you will find seats finished in Miko Suedecloth and Robustec accents, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and illuminated treadplates.

FRESH KICKS:

Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA All-Star Games of all time, the 2001 ASG in Washington, DC saw Allen Iverson take home MVP honors after leading a stirring comeback performance from his undersized East squad — all while wearing an unreleased pair of white and black Reebok Question Mids. Iverson’s halftime speech, efforts to erase a 21-point deficit with only nine minutes remaining and game shoes have become the stuff of legend, so Reebok is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Answer’s memorable performance by re-releasing his Question Mid from the game and dubbing it the “Why Not Us?”

Pulling its moniker from Iverson’s Herculean 15-point fourth quarter and the postgame press conference where he noted “We were all sitting on the sideline saying: ‘Why not us?’,” the shoe is built from premium white leather with a black leather toe cap and heel piece providing contrast. Branding arrives via a black midfoot Vector logo, a white Question graphic on the heel and black/white eyestays that spell out “Reebok.” 

A special tweak is provided by the inner side of the tongue, with the right shoe boasting a “Why Not Us?” text graphic and the right a large question mark. More black trim around the tongue, black DMX cushioning units in the midsole and a black #3 badge on the heel add further to the yin and yang contrast. Smoky black translucent outsoles with a Vector logo round off the look.

Expect the Reebok Question Mid “Why Not Us?” to hit the Reebok webstore and retailers like Foot Locker on March 6 with an MSRP of $140 USD. For a trip down memory lane, see highlights of the 2001 ASG with Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and more below.Nice Kicks and adidas (XETRA:ADS.DE -1.43%) have joined forces for a two tone tie-dye Ultra4D. Combining an UltraBOOST upper with a 4D midsole, the Ultra4D is a new take on a familiar silhouette — making it a fitting canvas for Nice Kicks, who’s also released tye-dyed UltraBOOSTS and NMD R1s in years past.

First premiered by footwear designer Frank Cooke and Nice Kicks head Matt Halfhill, the collaborative sneaker features a black and white spiral tie-dye print on its forefoot and midfoot. Heels, heel counters and Three Stripe midfoot cages are left a monochromatic black, and a small red Nice Kicks logo is present on the tongue for a pop of flair. Down below, latticed 4D midsoles are done up in jet black and work with black outsoles to round off the look. 

According to an Instagram post from Cooke, the design is dubbed “Have a Nice Day” and nods to “enjoying the elements during these confining times.” This ethos is furthered by the shoe’s friends and family-only seeding kits, which package it in a picnic basket complete with a blanket and full set of dining accessories.

The Nice Kicks x adidas Ultra4D will release sans dining accessories on Nice Kicks Shop come March 5, and is priced at $250 USD.Nike (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) has given its Air Max 90 another Japan-inspired twist. Near the start of the month, Nike unveiled a version of the silhouette modeled after a Japanese rice ball. Now, the label has offered a vibrant “Swoosh Mart” colorway that mirrors the look of paper wrappers commonly served with fried chicken in Japan.

The entire shoe is decorated with bold yellow stripes, complemented by shiny metallic highlights. A tiny “NIKE” logo is stamped at the top of the shoe’s tongue, followed by a set of white laces and silver-toned eyelet panels. A metallic Swoosh is placed over the sidewalls, popping out from the uppers’ yellow stripes, accompanied by a branded heel tab and a small “Air Max” label around the shoe’s rear quarters. 

There’s a subtle “open” sign around the edge of the shoe’s toebox and upper collars that, once torn, reveal a hidden layer of orange suede mimicking the texture of crispy fried chicken. All of these details rest over a clean two-toned midsole to round off the shoe’s playful design.

Nike’s Air Max 90 “Swoosh Mart” is expected to land on March 19 on Nike’s websitefor $140 USD.New Balance Japan has put a new spin to its 574. The silhouette has been updated with monochromatic hi-tech uppers for added comfort, bringing newfound utility to the classic model.

Starting at the top of the shoe is a large “NB” tongue tag, complemented by a ripstop heel tab and mesh collars. The shoe comes with suede panels around the heel and toecap as well as full-grain leather along the quarters, eyelets and toebox for a variety of textures. New Balance’s “N” logo is placed at the sidewalls, beneath translucent overlays, while “New Balance” branding is stamped at the rear quarters. All of these features are supported by an articulated ENCAP midsole offering durability and comfort.

New Balance Japan’s hi-tech 574s in black and white colorways are currently available on the label’s website for ¥10,890 JPY (approximately $103 USD).After teasing an upcoming “City Special” series with an Air VaporMax Plus and Air Max Plus, Nike  (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) drops the new Air VaporMax in an “Exeter Edition” colorway with a bright color palette.

The silhouette is covered in eye-catching hues that include volt, orange, and lime, also featuring some neutral tones. Overlays of ribbed Flyknit material provide texture to the upper as it transitions from orange and gray along with patches of orange and volt across the mudguard and the heel. To balance off the vibrant tones, navy makes an understated presence on the tongue, with cream gracing the shoelaces.

We can see several branded elements in this iteration such as the “Exeter Edition” tag on the side panel — which pays homage to Exeter, New Hampshire, where the brand first started its running division — the lime Vapormax heel tab, and the orange and gray Swooshes on the midfoot. A VaporMax sole unit tinted in translucent-blue compliments Nike’s recycled Grind rubber.

Priced at $200 USD, the new Nike “Exeter Edition” Air VaporMax is expected to drop in the upcoming months.Nike (NYSE:NKE -0.36%) ‘s latest Free Run Trail has been given a bold update — reflective lines resembling geographic mapping of hiking trails.

Most of the shoe’s uppers come in a smooth matte grey, complemented by cream-colored mesh. A “NIKE FREE TRAIL 5.0” tag is placed at the top of the tongue, followed by a teal lacing system that matches the same tone as the shoe’s heel tab. The shoe features a thinly embroidered Swoosh over a body of perforated synthetic leather detailed with fragmented reflective lines. All of these details rest over a flexible mint-colored, eco-friendly Free midsole that offers a vibrant touch to the shoe’s grey uppers. 

No release dates have been disclosed, but this model of Nike’s Free Run Trail is expected to land soon on Nike’s website — prices have yet to be confirmed.