Over at WWD we came across some interesting information about the opening of the Takashi Murakami exhibition that we previewed here already. Aside from presenting a new Monogramouflage pattern developed by the artist, the message behind the pattern is also quite special.
“Tonight, Vuitton is celebrating Takashi Murakami’s “© Murakami” exhibition with a “Brooklyn Ball” at the Brooklyn Museum featuring a special performance by Kanye West, the unveiling of a new camouflage print developed by Murakami and Marc Jacobs called Monogramouflage and a special installation designed to bring attention to one of the industry’s biggest travails — counterfeits.

But rather than simply hand out leaflets to alert guests about the importance of protecting original designs, the French luxury goods house will be taking a novel, somewhat intriguing route. Outside the museum, Vuitton is setting up 10 New York-style street vendors — not to sell fakes, but rather authentic Louis Vuitton product and special Monogramouflage canvases that Murakami has created specifically for the exhibition.”
If you can make it out there and get one of those Monogramouflage canvas, you can be sure it’s a good investment! Hopefully they will be using the pattern on leather goods as well.

While the art and design worlds are trying to reconcile their differences and work together, Cary Lietzes of ARTCO is working to bring artists and major corporations closer, by creating branding that is visually stimulating and unique. Design has a long history of struggle with the mass market but Lietzes has pioneered a fresh approach to the subject and carved out an intricate niche for herself and the artists and brands with which she works.
Using her knowledge of fashion, marketing and publishing, Lietzes recognized the need for new blood in the marketing world and identified current artists whose forward thinking and creativity suited these needs. Hence, ARTCO’s current project with Pepsi is not surprising, but is refreshing.
ARTCO has assembled 10 artists to design the Pepsi cans for the company’s 4 biggest markets. The 10 different designs will be sold worldwide, with the new designs rolling out in select countries before expanding to more locations throughout the year.
Participating artists included DZINE, Jon Burgerman and many others. Via Vista Art & Design.

Soon Colette will be hosting an exhibition of the works of Eric Elms. The artist and designer has worked with many companies in the past years including Supreme, Stussy, Undefeated and others.
Here we give you a preview of what his soon to open exhibition will be showing. Overall the exhibition is showcasing works that inspired him to do his commercial works. The exhibition opens May 5th and will run until May 31rst.
After the jump many more works of the artist.

We reported about the new exhibition by Takashi Murakami exhibition opening at the Brooklyn Museum end of the week.
April 5–July 13, 2008
Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery
4th and 5th Floors
The NY Times has a look at the space, some artworks and also the tremendous work involved with moving the exhibition from LA to Brooklyn. Check out the slideshow here.

Inaugural publication by Dashwood Books, “The Chance is Higher” is a 72-page book featuring forty black and white images by photographer Ari Marcopoulos, all of which were printed on a Xerox machine. For years Marcopoulos has worked with Xeroxes as sketches for books, zines, and exhibitions. In love with the simple direct beauty of this low-fi technique, the artist turned to that medium to create this new body of work. The book is designed by the Swiss team Gavillet and Rust who worked with Marcopolous on his landmark 2005 book “Even the President of the United States Sometimes has got to Stand Naked”, their cool elegant style subtly emphasizes the directness of the work.
This hardcover edition comes in a slipcase, and is limited to 50 copies which are all signed at numbered by the artist. There is also a Deluxe Edition which is printed on a red paper stock throughout with dustjacket that folds out into a poster.
Both are now available for pre-order at Dashwood Books.

The camera never lies and that is why photography is the best way to capture raw, unfiltered authenticity.  “Being True” is an exhibition presented by Nike which plays off this notion, bringing together 22 photographers who’ve used their cameras to capture a moment in time when a subject, completely devoid of pretense, expressed him or herself honestly and truly. Whether it’s a stylistic statement; a look of joy, thoughtfulness or anguish; or a physical movement, these young faces represent American youth culture in its purest form.

In the spirit of the shoe that inspires those who dare to be different, curators Emma Reeves and Aaron Rose sorted through entries from 100 lens men and lens women and settled on a diverse go-to group. The exhibit reaches back 22 years and includes established, as well as up-and-coming photographers (and anything in between), What they have in common, and what makes their images so impactful, is that they’ve managed to capture, in the blink of an eye, a visual manifestation of “Being True.”

“Being True – 22 years of American Youth” features photography from:
Tim Barber, Angela Boatwright, Kenneth Cappello, Poppy De Villeneuve, Cheryl Dunn, Naomi Harris, Alex Hoerner, Drew Jarrett, Alain Levitt, Jeaneen Lund, Ari Marcopoulos, Dan Murphy, Jason Nocito, Patrick O’Dell, Mike Piscitelli, David Ransone, Terry Richardson, Jamel Shabazz, David Perez (Shadi), Brent Stewart, Ray Potes, Tobin Yelland.
The exhibition took place in New York and will come this week to Los Angeles.

“Being True – 22 years of American Youth” — Los Angeles

April 3rd  – April 27th, 2008
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 3rd

144 LAB,
144 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036
More pictures after the jump.

We present you yet another interesting art deck by FTC Tokyo. This time they got together with artist Shun Kawakami of artless Inc. The board features a nice piece of art that uses both sides of the deck.
It is now available at Scene.

Stussy will be working this season with 4 artists and each artist will design several t-shirts for the brand. The first one in line is Canadian Andrew Pommier. The artist created 4 t-shirts with very strong graphics, perfectly fusing art and fashion. Pics via SneakerFreaker.
The t-shirts come limited to 100 pieces and will be released soon. More pics after the jump.

American Artist Marilyn Minter was born in 1948 in Louisiana and raised in Florida.

In the late 70’s after pursuing her MFA at Syracuse University, Minter moved to NYC where she taught at a Catholic boys school and became mixed up with the NY club scene. These experiences influenced her return to the Art world and in 1989 she produced her first show, which was inspired by hardcore pornography. With harsh criticism from feminists, Minter pursued with her work binding imagery from porn videos and beauty advertisements.

In addition to her work with photography, Minter creates paintings which reflect a photo-realist method.

In 2006 Minter collaborated with Creative Time and bought ad space in Manhattan’s gallery neighborhood of Chelsea. She hung four of her visually lush shoe images originally shot for fashion magazines, transcending the fashion ideal back to the human form, attempting to make the fashion image fresh and compelling.

Supreme will release a series of limited edition skateboard decks designed by Marilyn Minter. The series will consist of three decks designed by Ms. Minter.

Available at the NY and LA stores on April 10th and online April 17th.

Japan will release the project on April 12th.
More detailed images after the jump.

Here is a bit of an early announcement. Artist Jose Parla will have his first UK solo exhibition towards the end of the year. Elms Lesters will be showing his work from October 2nd until November 1rst. Mark it in your calendars!