AJ1 Barcelona 1.0

Print Size - 30” x 20”

Origin

The AJ1 Barcelona was painted as a tribute to the Sneaker that sparked my interest with the Jordan brand. Layered with nuance and meaning, the painting process served as a symbol of grief over the Artist’s late best friend Jordan. The use of the “fade-away” technique seen was originally introduced to me while reviewing work by Leyendecker. This piece discusses what is and isn’t there through the use of negative space and positive form… An expression of the Artist’s experience of reality, life, and death.

Influences

I was first introduced to the the “fade-away” technique, learning about Leyendecker in art school. The background and foreground are dueling for shape, bringing the illusion of form to life. In art school, my best friend Jordan and I were practically inseparable and a melting pot of creativity. Jordan passed a few years after graduation and I had intended to commemorate him with my art. The major theme of the piece is discussing what is, and isn’t there… how many layers of nothing - create something? As I have always been partial to wearing Nike sneakers based on their comfort, in 2021 I was encouraged to buy a pair of Air Jordan 1’s. I was magnetically drawn to the design of the AJ1 Barcelona color way . At the time, I didn’t know the sneakers would help connect me to my late best friend… but here we are. To Jordan!

Color and Composition

The red sneaker steals the show and offers commanding presence. The patent leather presented a shine that I had never experienced in a sneaker before. The colors of the fabric were explosive and I needed to have it. The white leather is represented by the white of the paper, making the rest of the shoe pop off the page. Grounded in a dark, almost black rubber soul that casts no shadow, the sneaker floats in isolation. The creases and holes in the leather only add depth and texture to an already real object, symbolizing the experience of life and its wear on the psyche.

Additional Information

Purchasing the Air Jordan 1 mid Barcelona colorway, was the first snowflake that begun the snowball. Collecting sneakers has become a hobby and passion of mine. If you are feeling depressed, a common action for people is to look down; but if you see something on your feet that make you feel good, it is literally and metaphorically pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.

Theory

As humans, we are all connected to the earth’s energy through the ground. With the invention of shoes, humans have insulated their feet and disturbed that connection. This invisible connection with the ground is something you can feel, take your shoes off and bury your feet in the dirt or sand. We call it grounding for a reason.