Oakland Artist Kalani Ware
We’re proud to release new tee designs in collaboration with Kalani Ware, a contemporary visual artist from Oakland who has made a name for himself both here at home and around the world.
Kalani’s local notoriety has grown in recent years due to his commissioned sketches of superstars performing at Oracle Arena, including Bruno Mars, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and Jay-Z. He’s the first visual artist to produce art for the venue.
His work is influenced by urban neighborhoods in the Bay Area, and by the nature and indigenous cultures of Hawai'i. Hawai’i is the birthplace of his grandmother and he studied graphic design at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
Kalani’s artistic creativity explodes in colorful pieces that are as mesmerizing as they are invigorating. He expresses himself in abstract shapes and assertive colors that are inspired by society and the vibrant multicultural landscapes we inhabit.
His art explores color in all of its wondrous variety and his ambition is to inspire others to do the same. Through color, he celebrates diversity and our mutual connection to our communities and each other. He aspires to one day teach young artists his trade and have the opportunity to paint murals on walls all over The Town. He hopes his art sparks conversations about diversity.
Kalani loves the subjectivity of abstract art for its innate impartiality and its natural propensity to promote openness, exploration, and inquiry. He hopes that when people ponder his work they’ll engage, ask questions and discover a moment of happiness.
His creative process is organic and reflective. It begins with a fluid thought that grows into a sketch he visualizes in his mind’s eye. He often discovers the meaning in his pieces while he’s working on them, and says, “Finding the meaning behind your work during the process of creating it is what makes art, art.”
Shop the collection: Oakland Artist KalanI Ware
Read More: Oaklandish Blog
Huge shout out to our models @daghe and @djredcorvette!
