Rad Collector puts us onto David Choe’s limited-edition Hammerhead Decks released through Giant Robot. Both “Untitled Portrait” and “Ignored Prayers” are limited to 50 pieces each and are now available here.
The much anticipated new David Choe exhibition, “Nothing to Declare”, opened its doors on April 23rd at Lazarides Gallery in Los Angeles.
“Driven by an unquenchable thirst for life, Choe saps every possible drop of experience – good or bad – out of his remarkable adventures. From incarceration in a Tokyo jail to hitchhiking down the Mississippi River via paddleboat, freight train hopping city to city and hunting for dinosaurs in the Congo jungle, David weaves these encounters into his work projecting a dramatic and fantastical, often sexually explicit, vision of the world he so lustfully inhabits.
Choe sculpts and paints in oils, acrylics, crayon and mixed media. His credibility as an ‘artist’, albeit one inclined to utilise public spaces every so often, is hardly in doubt. Influences flow through comic book culture to gothic art, impressionism and the surreal. The content of Choe’s work is equally complex and in contrast to the slick, succinct, populist messages of some of his contemporaries. The fictional military heroes of GI Joe wield boomboxes above Arabic slogans; hip young metropolitan ladies whisper their cruel conspiracies; seedy delights beckon from behind pretty vistas; grown men scream for ice cream; absurdist animals rope humans into their incomprehensible schemes. On the street, base titillating yet supposedly ‘tasteful’ advertising becomes doctored with intestines and tribal fetishes, echoing the sensual abyss of de Sade. Pictures titles include I Fuck Nerds. Equally, Choe’s figurative and collage work displays sensitivity and intricacy rarely matched by Manhattan’s girly fashion illustrator set. We should be grateful, not offended, by the insights into Choe’s potent imagination and agenda; and the alluring, intricate slag smelted from its process of reconciliation.”
In this new exhibition the artist shows a very impressive line-up of new works. Included are sculptures, paintings and much more. The large space of the gallery is entirely dedicated to his new body of work.
The July Upper Playground New Era 59FIFTY hats feature the artwork of David Choe and Upper Playground. David Choe is well known for lots of things, one of them being his notorious whales, so it’s only fitting that Mr. Choe’s cap features his signature whales embroidered all over the hat. The Upper Playground Logo Mesh Fitted blends the breathability and comfort into a hat perfect for warmer weather. Both hats are available at Upper Playground stores and on the Upper Playground Web Store.
Have a closer look at the Upper Playground July 2009 New Era Caps after the jump.
Abraham Obama is a humorous and provocative look at an unprecedented political art movement. A campaign to change the visual landscape of America yields a new President, and ushers in a new collective consciousness for Americas people.
Famous street artist Ron English gathers a crew of professional pranksters and hits the road on a grass-roots campaign to make public art and promote Obamas campaign for the Presidency. Abraham Obama takes us on an unforgettable ride as the stories of Ron English unfold alongside musicians and artists such as Shepard Fairey, Jack Medicine, David Choe, Sam Flores, The Date Farmers, Will.I.Am, Morgan Spurlock, DJ Z-Trip and several others.
Directed by Kevin Chapados, and Produced by Daniel Lahoda and Ron English, the Abraham Obama DVD is now available and goes for 20 USD.
The Upper Playground April series of New Era caps includes two new styles – one featuring the art of David Choe, and the other a variation of the UP logo. The David Choe Mural hat features a sublimated print of various David Choe illustrations on satin. The sublimation print technique allows for the fine lines and shading of Choe’s drawing to really come through – no details are lost.
The second April release features the “Walrus Crowd” graphic that features a gang of walruses. The art is embroidered all over the hat in regal purple. The hat is fully lined and features a matching purple under-brim.
Never not working is a pretty apt description of the folks over at Upper Playground. With a seemingly endless array of product, their stable of artists tag everything from t-shirts to home wares. It’s the latter where Upper Playground produces the most interest. With limited options for those looking for smart graphics for more decorative purchases, Upper Playground fills a noticeable void. Pillows are just one example. Artists Sam Flores, David Choe and Morning Breath add their touches to the latest release. Pillows are 20 x 20, with removable, washable cases.
Continuing their celebrations for their 5th anniversary, The Hundreds will be releasing tomorrow, October 30th, a t-shirt artist series, designed by artists that have been close to the brand for years. Artists include Robbie Conal, Tofer, MR44, David Choe, and Usugrow.
The Hundreds 5th Artist Series will only be released at the flagship stores in LA and SF.
Detailed images of all five t-shirts follow after the jump.
Fine artist David Choe is the latest artist to partner with Upper Playground to produce not one, but TWO Barack Obama prints. Choe has designed and produced apparel, adidas sneakers, comic books, movie posters, album covers, fine art books and toys, among many other projects.
David Choe’s Barack Obama posters are part of an ongoing series from Upper Playground of artist collaborations in support of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Upper Playground has endorsed Obama’s campaign by creating posters featuring artwork from Grotesk, The Date Farmers, Munk One, Ron English, Alex Pardee, Morning Breath, Mac, Sam Flores and Mear One, in addition to printing T-shirts with Shepard Fairey’s Obama graphics to help support the campaign.
There were 200 prints made that are signed and numbered of each design, and each poster retails for $200. The limited-edition 18"X24" prints are available exclusively online. All proceeds from the sales of the posters will go directly to creating more campaign t-shirts, posters, and stickers by other artists in support of Obama’s bid for President.
In additional news, Upper Playground is partnering with Shepard Fairey, MoveOn.org and Evolutionary Media Group on a special exhibit at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The Manifest Hope Gallery (www.manifesthope.com) will showcase both established and emerging artists and present the most widely recognized pieces seen throughout the 2008 presidential primary campaign, as well as newly commissioned works and previous works on loan from some of the United States’ top artists.
Featured artists at the exhibit will include Shepard Fairey and many of the artists that have designed Obama posters via Upper Playground including Sam Flores, Mac, Ron English, David Choe, The Date Farmers, and Justin Bua (his print will be available soon). Other artists include Chris Pastras, Mel Kadel, Todd Lockwood, Maya Hayuk, Cathie Bleck, CRO (Go Tell Mama), Evan Hecox, Lukas Ketner, Gary Baseman, Scot Lefavor, Lisa Congdon, Amy Martin, and many more. Resident DJ Jeremy Sole will on hand all week to inspire music inside the art galleries.
This Thursday, July 24th, Upper Playground will release the new David Choe adidas Originals sneaker. The Stan Smith shoe is the second release in the four-part series that also includes designs from Herbert Baglione, Aesop Rock, and Sam Flores.
Los Angeles native David Choe is a muralist and graphic artist. He has designed and produced apparel, comic books, movie posters, album covers, fine art books and toys, among many other projects. Choe has collaborated with companies such as Electronic Arts, Levi’s, Sony Pictures and now adidas.
Choe is currently the star of a feature documentary on his life called Dirty Hands. The film documents Choe, a young near-schizophrenic street artist that devises numerous criminal schemes that allow him to hitchhike across the globe.
There are only 500 pairs of the Choe sneaker available worldwide. Sizes range from men’s size 4 to 13.5. To pick up your fresh pair of David Choe Stan Smith sneakers, visit www.upperplayground.com or head to a UP retail store. The sneaker will go on sale online at 8 am PT on Thursday, July 24, 2008.
More detailed images after the jump.
Adidas and Upper Playground got together to work on a series of sneakers under the titel – “You Ain’t Got to Lie to Kick It”.
So far they have revealed three sneakers out of the collection. These have been designed by David Choe, Sam Flores and Aesop Rock. There will be one more to complete the series. That we will show you as soon as possible. There is no set release date so far, but we’ll keep you posted on the project.
Until then check out the first three after the jump.
