Skate
label Zoo York is introducing the Cockroach Artist Series
- a pro model board collection featuring custom roach illustrations
from 5 renowned NYC-based artists: Greg Lamarche (SP.ONE), Steve
Nishimoto (Nish), Kyle Talbott (Mesk One), Stephen Halker, and Jules
Kim (Bijules). The collection is set to hit Zoo York retailers during
early half of next month.
Greg Lamarche (SP.ONE)
Rider: Aaron Suski
A Queens native who now lives and works in Manhattan, Greg Lamarche
(SP.ONE) is widely recognized as one of the key players in NYC’s
revolutionary ‘80s-era graffiti movement. Known for his flawless
letter constructions and vibrant mixed-media collage work, in 1992 Greg
founded the highly-influential graffiti ‘zine, Skills. Over the past
decade, Greg’s work has been prominently featured in numerous print
publications and art galleries spanning the globe. A regular Zoo York
contributor, he has lent his sublime artistic abilities to commercial
projects for Nike, Roxy, Carhartt, Helio, Swindle, Mass Appeal, and
others.
Steve Nishimoto (Nish)
Rider: Kevin Taylor
A respected member of NYC’s downtown art scene whose intricate
letter forms, collage imagery, and logo designs have touched a global
audience of skateboarders, tastemakers, and art connoisseurs. Born and
raised in Chicago, where the rugged urban landscape nurtured his
interest in design, Nish moved to New York in the late ‘90s to pursue a
career in art. Working closely with Associates in Science and the
founders of Zoo York, Nish quickly made a name for himself in NYC and
beyond. His work has been featured in magazines and art exhibits
around the world, and he has been commissioned by a range of top brands
including Uniqlo, Viacom, Burton, Nike, Converse, FTC, and 2K by
Gingham.
Kyle Talbott (Mesk One)
Rider: Donny Barley
Accomplished print, web designer, and the co-founder of Handselecta
– a font foundry based in New York that develops new handstyles while
preserving the wealth of urban calligraphy that has evolved over the
past thirty years. Kyle’s involvement in graffiti culture dates back
to 1985 when, after watching “Style Wars” on PBS one fateful night, he
embarked on a personal exploration of graffiti that has steadily grown
into a lifelong journey. Currently serving as an adjunct professor at
Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts, Kyle also runs FELT Creative – a
boutique web design firm in Brooklyn that boasts a healthy roster of
underground and mainstream clients.
Stephen Halker
Rider: Zered Bassett
A valued member of Zoo York’s in-house design squad, Brooklynite
Stephen Halker is a Southern California native who relocated to NYC in
1997 to attend the School of Visual Arts (SVA). The son of acclaimed
scientists, throughout his scholastic years Stephen often wrestled with
his inborn scientific curiosity versus strong desire to express himself
artistically. Upon graduation from college, Stephen combined his blood
lust and creative desires by taking a job as a scientific illustrator.
After drawing cadavers for three years, he fled the lab for a position
at McGraw-Hill where he illustrated college-level biology textbooks.
From there, in an attempt to broaden his horizons into more emotive
forms of illustration, Stephen freelanced for record labels, lifestyle
brands, and magazines, before landing his current gig at Zoo York last
year.
Jules Kim (Bijules NYC)
Rider: Forrest Kirby
Established in 2004 by designer Jules Kim, Bijules NYC is an
internationally celebrated collection of jewelry and accessories that
speaks to worldly trend-setters who embrace a deep sense of individual
style and attitude. Located in Chinatown, Jules places strong emphasis
on the importance of self-expression, and her provocative designs
reflect American propaganda surrounding the empowerment of women, the
innocence of youth, and the dark humor of adulthood. Regularly
featured in leading print and broadcast media outlets, Bijules pieces
are worn by some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry
including MF Doom, Santogold, Spank Rock, MIA, Eve, Rihanna, Gwen
Stefani, and many others.
