Earlier this week, Supreme announced their collab with RIMOWA, but that isn’t the only collab Supreme is dropping this week. The NYC skate brand has also worked with the estate of the late Martin Wong to create a collection featuring the artist’s work.
Chinese-American artist Martin Wong was born in 1946 and raised in San Francisco. In 1968, Wong earned a degree in ceramics from Humboldt State University, where he enrolled in every art course available. He moved to New York City in 1978 and settled in Loisaida – the Lower East Side’s historic Hispanic enclave – in 1982. There, Wong created landscape artworks that captured the essence of the neighborhood. Looking back at his artwork is like looking at an urban time capsule, showing viewers what the Lower East Side looked like in the mid 80s — desolate, but brimming with vibrant graffiti.
Wong complemented his landscape artworks with poetry by Nuyorican poet and playwright Miguel Piñero, whose experiences in prison and on the streets profoundly shaped Wong’s work and romantic outlook. Wong’s artwork also features Zodiac constellations, calligraphy, newspaper headlines, sign language alphabets, hand-painted signs and of course, graffiti.
The collection consists of a Schott leather varsity jacket, rayon shirts, a short-sleeve top, hoodies, tees, beanies, and two skate decks. Each piece is adorned in Wong’s artwork. Learn more about Martin Wong in the video below and scroll down to see the entire collection. Supreme x Martin Wong drops on November 14 at all Supreme locations and online, except for in Japan which will get a release on November 16.
