The most iconic Sneakers designed by Stash.
We saw in the previous editorial dedicated to Futura 2000, how sneakers and street art are two complementary worlds: fruit of the same big tree that is Street Culture.
Graffiti, as well as sneakers, have their roots in Hip-Hip culture and from that New York City of the 1970s and 1980s that was the backdrop for the story of Futura 2000, Keith Haring, Jean-Michael Basquiat and Stash.
In this second episode of “Sneaker Game meets Art,” we will talk about Stash himself, born Josh Franklin.
He was born on Long Island – NY – in 1967, and like so many teenagers at the time, he became fascinated by street culture and the great NY graffiti art that colored the subway wagons and walls of his neighborhood.
Josh sees in that art a very strong potential to spread his own style, his own signature, even though in most people’s eyes it is still an act of vandalism. The background of graffiti writers, as graffiti artists are called, is surrounded by unwritten rules and codes of behavior, as well as a very high sense of belonging: they are brothers, and to Stash this is so fascinating.
He wants to become a Writers, be part of a Crew and “stain” the city with his logo.
He gets in touch with some New York graffiti artists of his age, such as Futura 2000, ZEPHYR and Duster, names already known in the city; soon, Stash’s name will emerge, eventually leading to an exhibition at FUN Gallery in New York, along with Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.
After this exhibition, Stash will find a downhill road:
The 1990s would be a consecration in the art world, thanks to his works on canvas and the use of graphic elements and graffiti made on collectibles and streetwear garments – a revolution at the time; collaborations with iconic brands such as Nike and A Bathing Ape would arrive, up to the creation of no less than two brands of his own: Recon and Subware.
With this move, Stash became known globally, not only in the gallery circuit and art enthusiasts. Today he is considered a pioneer of Graffiti Art and an innovator in the world of urban design.
His passion for the sneaker game is undeniable and from a certain point of view inevitable.
We will take a brief tour of Stash’s most beautiful, rare, and seminal Sneaker culture releases!
