Tag Archives: Louis de Guzman

Q+A with Louis De Guzman

louis_blog_

 

The “Falling Through” cushion is your second in-house release in the realm of home goods. Talk a little bit about how you got inspired to design these items.

With my love and appreciation for visual art + design, one thing I’ve always gravitated towards is the practice and experimentation of applying my mixed media methods onto everyday objects. Whether that’d be a tea set, a functional tote bag, a blanket or in this instance, a pillow. It’s always been on the agenda to translate personal experiences through form and function. To always push and elevate the offering from personal narrative to mutual connection through from the viewer’s perspective.

LOUIS_PILLOW_0000_Curves 1

What went into the decision behind choosing “Falling Through,” which was a painting initially, and turning it into the cushion? Were there any other pieces you considered?

It was honestly the composition and shape that really resonated organically with the team and I. After going through the body of work from the “In Between The Lines” collection, it naturally came together in deciding that “Falling Through” was the one to apply towards this everyday household + studio object.

 

IMG_3520

 

This is another use of your signature color palette. Can you go into detail about the development process behind your color palette and how you decide to incorporate it differently into each of your pieces?

First and foremost, great question! The 4 paint pantones within the body of work has always been something that resonated with me from the very beginning. Color tones and specific hues that really caught my eye at different points in my life that I naturally honed in and started to spread across the work in which I felt brought out the fine line details and compositions even more. I’d say that it had to do a lot with how these specific tones affected my mood and continued to make me feel when creating the work. All good vibes all around.

Does your process change at all when you’re designing lifestyle items compared to art or clothing?

With my background in both art + design, I’ve learned to hone in my process as far as experimentation goes when applying visual to physical over the years. So I’d say the process doesn’t necessarily change, but more so always learning something new as we go. “Forever a student” mindset is how I’d like to describe it when creating in general.

 

122007930_782671069131437_8406182054692874026_n

 

Do you have anything you can share regarding upcoming projects that we can look forward to? Any plans to release more lifestyle items soon?

There are definitely some exciting projects that the team and I are amped for. Certain ones in the pipeline that I can’t speak on now, but will say to get ready and be excited! Haha. Just humbled by the love and support always towards the work and happy that we can create to share these experiences with everyone at the end of the day. Definitely more home goods in the near future. It’ll be an ongoing thing for sure as the body of work continues to build up.

 

122150789_3207394369383264_7710168327540363265_n

——————————————————————————-

The “Falling Through” cushion is available for purchase on our website now at the link below. 

 

Louis DeGuzman “Time Heals All” Contest

louis1

Chicago-based artist and RSVP Gallery alum Louis DeGuzman took to Instagram yesterday to announce an art-contest and giveaway to encourage the continuation of social distancing while we remain under stay-at-home orders.

 

To participate, all entrants must:

1) Download the line-art for DeGuzman’s “Time Heals All” piece for free on his website here.

 

2) Color up and/or interpret creatively with any medium / art form as to what this piece means to you, accompanied by a 1-4 sentence explanation on how you hope to see and impact the world once this pandemic has subsided

 

3) Share composition on IG story and/or feed and tag @louisdeguzman.

 

Two (2) winners will be announced on May 1st, 2020. One (1) winner will receive DeGuzman’s all-black ELEVATE figure and the other winner will take home a signed fine-art print.

“Elevate” Exhibition by Louis De Guzman

  • LouisBlogPics_lg

RSVP Gallery alumnus and Chicago native Louis De Guzman just finished a monster run through 2018, and he isn’t showing signs of slowing down.

 

De Guzman’s geometrically abstract art style has garnered global recognition as he applies his aesthetic to prominent pop culture iconography. De Guzman’s sculpture “Elevate” debuted this year at ComplexCon. The black fixture, measuring over four feet tall, features De Guzman’s imagining of Bart Simpson performing a trick on his signature skateboard. Alongside the unveiling, De Guzman and his team released 8.5” retail variations of the work. These pieces sold out in less than a day.

 

For those who missed out at the ComplexCon release, De Guzman offered another chance to procure a figure, with an online release and exclusive event at RSVP Gallery. Online stocks ran dry within five minutes and in-store quantities quickly vanished.

 

After the event, we caught up with De Guzman. Check out the interview below:

 

Q: How did you first get into art?
A: I first got into art at a very young age. My mother would take me to craft shows with her that she would attend to and showcase some of her own decorative/personal work that she would develop in particularly during the Holiday seasons; Which is my earliest and fondest memory of gaining that spark in the creative and expressive field.

 

Q: What is your background and is your work tied to your culture?
A: I am a proud second-generation Filipino American. And I would say that my culture is definitely tied to my work.

 

Q: What does your work say to the audience?
It says that you should always follow your heart into doing what you love the most on the daily and in life. That anything and everything is possible.

 

Q: What is your personal favorite piece that you have created?
A: That’s always a hard one since as artists, I feel that we constantly learn and evolve into our next form every day. Fine tuning and perfecting our craft which leads to more developed and more new bodies of work that may not look like something we created five, ten and maybe even fifteen years before. So, I would say everything I’ve created in my life/career thus far has been my favorite, because each piece has been a part of the timeline and journey in continuing to live out these dreams I’ve had since I was a child attending those craft shows with my mother.

 

Q: What has been the most challenging obstacle to overcome and why?
A: I would say it’s the obstacle that any and if not most artists face from the start. And that’s being comfortable and confident enough in sharing something so personal on a public level. Putting our emotions and feelings out on mediums for complete strangers to take in and hopefully move with / relate to.

 

Q: Who are your biggest influences and why?
A: I would say my family would have to be my biggest of influences. Specifically, my mom and dad. They immigrated to the US from the Philippines in the mid-’80s in search of a better life. Not knowing nor having any promises for what they would come to live and experience in such a desired culture and country to be in, especially back then. Because of their journey and sacrifice, I was extremely lucky to have been born and raised here in the suburbs of Chicago. That alone is my influence and motivation to keep on chasing the dream so that I can be assured to take care of the both of them and the rest of my family now + beyond.

 

Q: What inspires you the most to create your work?
A: What inspires me most to create my work is the idea and fact that I never gave up on my passion and my purpose. Knowing that my work resonates with others in the most positive way to help people view and change their perspectives on certain things in the best way possible. Knowing that the work inspires the youth and future creatives and greats to go after their dreams would have to be the second most influential thing for me to wake up every day and create.

 

Q: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are?
A: GOD, my family, my friends and everyone that I’ve been extremely lucky to have met along the way, including the RSVP Family.

 

Q: Where do you think you would be if it weren’t for art, is there a different path you had in mind?
A: I honestly wouldn’t or couldn’t see myself going down a different path. But if I had to choose, it would probably be something along the lines of social impact through some form of teaching.

 

Q: What can your fans expect from you in the future?
A: To even say that I have fans is an extremely humbling word and idea to connect with my work. Always will and forever be grateful for them! They can expect some rad collaborations and projects that the team (Austin Neely, Bradley Butchko and myself) have been cooking up and building up towards for 2019 + beyond. Solo shows internationally and wherever the journey takes us! Super hyped and forever grateful for these moments and see where it’s all falling into place. They can expect my third solo show on Saturday, December 15th here in Chicago. All new original works and concepts that I cannot wait to share with our city!

 

Check out all of the photos from the event and stay up to date on all of his upcoming sculptures and events by following him on Instagram (@LouisDeGuzman).

Don’t Blend In: Givenchy S/S ’14 Camo

  • Givenchy_Camo_3 (1)
  • Givenchy_Camo_2 copy
  • Givenchy_Camo_1 (1)

Inspired by iconic military staple pieces, Givenchy presents their own version of the camouflage print. Wear Givenchy’s distinctive motif this season and you won’t find yourself blending in with everyone else’s ordinary camouflage gear. How ironic.

Graphics by Louis De Guzman
Words by Alicia Gutierrez

George Condo x M/M Paris x Kanye West Scarves

  • KANYE WEST GEORGE CONDO SCARF
  • KANYE WEST GEORGE CONDO SCARF
  • KANYE WEST GEORGE CONDO SCARF

Designed for the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the commissioned George Condo paintings became a luxurious expression of both Kanye West and M/M (Paris). With added creative effort by M/M (Paris), the silk scarves  are not just beautiful fashion accessories, but art.

Graphics by Louis De Guzman
Words by Alicia Gutierrez