Hit the Books

It is time to take control of your education. Whether you are back in the classroom or studying in your bedroom, this year is all about pursuing your passions. So please take a look at the syllabus below because we want to make sure you learn from the absolute best this year.

Virgil Abloh x Nike ICONS “The Ten” Something’s Off Book

This semester, dive deep into the revolution started by Virgil Abloh. In his book ICONS: Something’s Off, Abloh explores how his Off-White collaboration with Nike came to be, dating back to early text conversations with Nike designers, all the way through his DIY creative process when developing “The Ten”. Virgil Abloh gives you a masterclass in how he was able to weave our modern culture into each sneaker in the collection.

KAWS Tokyo First Hardcover Exhibition Catalog Book

Move over Leonardo da Vinci, this year art history will focus on Brian Donnelly, professionally known as KAWS, a renaissance contemporary that you simply must know. Throughout his career, KAWS has been able to blur the lines between commercialism and fine art using his signature Companion character to communicate his message through several mediums including paint and sculpture. The KAWS Tokyo First Hard Cover Exhibition Catalog Book takes you behind the scenes of the over 150 pieces included in the artist’s most recent Tokyo exhibition, and helps to tell the story of KAWS’ career from his earliest pieces to present day.

Hebru Brantley “Editions” Hardcover Book

Hebru Brantley is among the leading voices telling the story of Black American History. Named the 2019 “Chicagoan of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune, Brantley has quickly extended his reach far beyond his midwestern roots where he started in the Chicago graffiti scene after being inspired by the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. In the Hebru Brantley “Editions” Hardcover Book you will be taken on a journey through Brantley’s sold-out 2020 exhibition at Chicago’s Vertical Gallery through images, the history of the project, and Brantley’s own thoughts regarding the context of his work.

Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg

In our unit on Japanese contemporary art we will be critically examining the paintings of Takashi Murakami. In the book, Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg, the focus is on Murakami’s work as a painter. The essays and illustrations in the book date all the way back to Murakami’s beginnings, and emphasize how his work connects to traditional Japanese painting, while also reflecting on how Murakami’s upbringing in post-war Japan, and facing the threat of living in the nuclear age shows up in his work.

Supreme Rizzoli Book

For Business 101, we turn to the most successful streetwear brand this century, Supreme. This Supreme book published by Rizzoli is the ultimate retrospective on how Supreme has been able to build their empire, and provides some context as to why a brick with “Supreme” etched on its face sells for over $200.