Hong Kong is New York’s creative sibling, says street artist Bradley Theodore
Fashion-themed works in signature skeletal style have struck a chord with everyone from hip-hop crew the Wu-Tang Clan to the makers of Monopoly
“I consider Hong Kong New York’s sister city,” says Bradley Theodore.
The New York-based street artist might not ring many bells in Hong Kong, but in his native city the artist is carving an enviable reputation, his distinctive skeletal style, use of colour, composition and brush strokes making his work instantly recognisable.
Exploring fashion, graphic design and popular culture, it’s Theodore’s colourful skeleton works of fashion industry figures that have stirred interest among big brands impressed with his images of style mavens such as Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Coco Chanel, Tom Ford, Terry Richardson and models Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” says the 32-year-old. “I’ve been able to learn how to paint and to have exhibitions around the world.”
Moët, Jordan Brand, RMK and Kent & Curwen have all used Theodore for campaigns. He has also worked with hardcore hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan, provided images for Sony and Universal Records and created logos for everything from cameras (Leica) to board games (Monopoly).
Theodore believes in creating art that is available to everyone and to that end he has conducted live painting sessions in New York, Los Angeles, Oslo, Paris and Tokyo. His pieces can be found on walls throughout New York, on the pages of international fashion magazines, and are heavily shared on social media platforms.