We sat down with London-based filmmaker and visual artist Sean Frank to learn more about his recent work with Converse, his favorite directors and the common misconception of the GIF.

Sean Frank is one of the unique young artists that Converse has tapped for "Made by You," a campaign celebrating the self-expression and experiences marked on the brand's Chuck Taylor All Stars, alongside other creative talents like Futura. Sponsoring four artists in London and collecting thousands of sneaker portraits, Converse has curated a wide array of visual art showcasing the unique place its iconic sneakers inhabit in the world of footwear. Portrait contributions from Patti Smith to Andy Warhol make this one of Converse's most ambitious campaigns to date.

As for the London exhibitions, Sam Taylor showed unique street-art at Shacklewell Lane; Sean Frank at Portobello Road; Ashley Jagdeo at Deptford Bridge and Daniel Hirschmann at Camden Lock. Their efforts were displayed for one day only on March 2 before being committed to digital archives for future reference.

In a similar creative vein, Damilola has captured his own take on Sneaker Portraits, featuring thousands of polaroids of Londoners wearing their Chucks and sharing their Six Word Stories, and assembling the images to create an ident art structure of London’s iconic outline. Supported by students from Central Saint Martins, Damilola will construct the unique and striking installation by hand within a gallery space on London’s Shoreditch high street.

Although Frank is best known for his directorial work and GIF art, the move to a physical installation hasn't fazed him at all. We recently had the chance to ask him some questions about what Converse means to him, what else inspires him and what the correct pronunciation is for the word "GIF."

Take a look at Sean Frank's mural at 317 Portobello Road, London and check out our full interview below.

Can you give us some background information on your development as an artist?

I studied at CSM and then Goldsmiths. It was during this time I started experimenting with film, photography and GIFs.

How did the collaboration with Converse come about?

I've worked with Converse on a couple of projects and I liked the sound of "Made by You" because of its physicality in contrast to the predominantly digital work I do.

What does the Converse brand mean to you personally?


Converse for me has always stood for originality and diversity. Chuck Taylors are icons that have the versatility to transcend age, sex and cultural barriers. This is incredibly rare in a product. I got my first pair when I was eight or nine, and still wear them today which I think says a lot.

What would you like spectators/visitors to take away from your exhibition at Portobello Road?


The piece is a celebration of diversity - one of the best things about London in my opinion. It's about the people and eclectic mix of characters that make up day-to-day life. Everyone was street cast from various boroughs of London. The idea was to bring to life the phrase "same same but different," how we are all the same at the core but externally we are all unique and individual and that is a great thing.

Having worked with the likes of Alexander McQueen and Dazed & Confused, where do you plan to go from here? Dream collaboration?


I want to continue making things I love, things that excite me. Working with people I respect creatively: brands, musicians, artists. I’m currently working on some personal film projects which I’ll be launching later this year.



Is there not a certain feeling of frenzy about making art and directing videos/promos now? It can seem like being off-trend means you fall off the radar? Is there not a danger that talent won't be fostered because producers are always looking for the next flash in the pan?

Everything is moving incredibly quickly and with the ever expansive presence of digital in our life there is a constant demand  for new information and entertainment. I think good work speaks for itself and if it's meaningful and can connect with an audience on some sort of emotional level it can hopefully withstand time and standout against the overload of content.

Could you tell us a little more about your GIF art? The form was originally intended for laughs. Do you think it needs to be rehabilitated, or do you feel comfortable working in a form that others don't take seriously? Or would it become boring if it belonged to the establishment?

I think this is a common misconception.  GIFs [graphic interchange format] were originally made as an image compression technique. Early examples of GIFs being the old Windows explorer icon, and the sand timer icon. 
GIFs are whatever you make of them. They can be humorous and trashy or arresting and beautiful. The latter is what I’m interested in. It's an art form completely native to the internet and still in its adolescence. I started a GIF gallery with Margot Bowman and Jolyon Varley called 15folds. We have an online GIF show each month where artists respond to a theme through GIFs. Last May we hosted an IRL (in real life) GIF exhibition in the former White Cube Gallery, with the next one planned for this summer in New York.

How do you pronounce GIF?


I’ve always said GIF with the hard "G."

You've shot a good number of celebrities. Which was your favorite shoot?

One of my most enjoyable shoots was a film I shot in Thailand for jewelry designer O Thongthai. We closed a motorway in Bangkok, had a Thai biker gang on Harleys and models riding on the back.  I got to follow and direct them from an incredible car rig contraption. A challenge but a lot of fun.

In a number of your videos and photos the subject flips off the camera. Does the "bird" have any meaning anymore? Are there certain gestures/words that have no power over us after being repeated often enough? Is there any intention behind using them once they have been declawed?

We are living in a time where the internet and technology have created a completely new vocabulary and way of speaking; language and meaning is constantly shifting. It seems things are becoming more and more desensitized. However, I think it's all about context and if you are saying or doing something to offend in an aggressive way, then it's always going to be offensive.

Who inspires you as a director?

Mainly people I meet, traveling and music, but also old advertising, music videos and films by Alejandro Jordorovsky and Jaques Tati.