Atticus Torre, the NYC-based artist known for his idiosyncratic cartoonish illustrations and airbrush creations, has partnered with Carhartt WIP to mark the reopening of the brand’s Paris Le Marais store. The collaboration will also see Torre unveil new work at the iconic Parisian bookstore and gallery space 0fr.
Torre has created a series of exclusive products for the reopening, which will be celebrated with an event at the store on Thursday, April 25. These include a limited series of Active Jackets and Vests painted by Torre, each bearing a different motif. In addition, the store will carry a t-shirt and sweatshirt featuring the artist’s graphics. “I got into airbrushing around 2021, and was looking for new fabrics to paint on,” says Torre. “It’s obviously been a thing to see people paint on the back of a leather or denim jacket. But it struck me that canvas would be the best – and at the time no one else seemed to be painting on old work jackets.”
Music for the event will be provided by Brian Boa of Trading Places Records, who first met Torre while he was managing one of his favorite artists, British musician John Glacier. “Brian turned up wearing a Carhartt WIP jacket. He didn’t really know my work, so I showed him the jackets I’d been working on. I painted his jacket for him while he just chilled, and after, he asked if I’d be interested in being connected with people from Carhartt WIP’s team in Paris.”
In addition to the reopening of the Paris Le Marais store, the Spanish-Canadian artist will unveil a series of new watercolor-based paintings at the nearby 0fr, which reimagines his signature characters in colorful, cloud-like form. The paintings represent an evolution of Torre’s work, and are the first time he has exhibited his work in a solo gallery setting. “I liked pushing myself further with these pieces,” says Torre. “It’s a really challenging process; the whole time I'm making them, they kind of don't look good. You don’t get a sense of what they’ll look like until the end.”
In addition to displaying Torre’s work, 0fr will also be carrying a reprint of his first book, Bright Ideas, which represents the foundational elements of the artist’s works, through his use of bold characters and intricate detailing.
Carhartt WIP Store Paris Le Marais reopens to the public on Friday, April 19, at 11am. A dedicated event will take place on the evening of April 25 at 6pm.
Atticus Torre’s 0fr solo show – complete with a Bright Ideas book signing – will launch on April 26 at 6pm. The work will remain on show until April 28.
Carhartt WIP Paris Le Marais
Store Reopening Event
Thursday, April 25
18:00 - 21:30
57 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris
Downloads
Contact
Joseph Biais
jbiais@carhartt-wip.comAbout Carhartt Work In Progress
Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP) is a clothing brand that adapts and modifies the core products of the pioneering American workwear brand Carhartt to create its own collections. Established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, the brand’s audience is just as likely to associate its iconic yellow C motif with late 90s hip hop videos or skate clips, as they are with factories or manual labor. This distinction is key in defining what Carhartt WIP does. Carhartt WIP engages with different cultural spheres: from Detroit and Berlin’s symbiotic techno scenes, to skateboarding and its communities that span Paris, New York, and Seoul, to the contemporary art world. The brand channels these influences, representing the culture which has formed around it. This can be seen and felt in its collections, its imagery, and its choice of partners and collaborators. Today, Carhartt WIP operates over 100 brick and mortar retail stores across Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as working with select wholesale clients.