This collection of text-based T-shirts harks back to the early days of the graphic tee. Each shirt was created in collaboration with one of three contemporary artists active in the US and UK art scenes. We hope that their words and graphics will inspire you to talk about love and share in the joy of life. The third of our The Message collaborators is London-based contemporary artist Lakwena. Her works combine acid-bright colors with bold text into distinctive paintings brimming with strength and positivity.
Lakwena's art makes people feel positive.
Her work has been displayed in galleries around the world, from Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London to New York and Los Angeles. But Lakwena—her first name means “messenger” in the Acholi language of northern Uganda—is best known for her brightly colored murals with positive messages that she paints in public spaces.
“I think for me, it was an instinctive way of responding to life experiences,” Lakwena says about her art. “One of the earliest moments I remember this happening was when I experienced culture shock after moving from Ethiopia back to England as a young child after living there for two years. And so, I studied graphic design in college. But I’ve always been very interested in words—both visually and conceptually—and how color and pattern can be used to draw attention to them. I’ve also always been very interested in speech.”
Lakwena grew up in a boisterous household, but she also liked spending time alone—whether playing video games or otherwise—and she credits her family for giving her the space to do so. “I think this fairly introspective nature is part of what has made me an artist,” she comments.
On a typical day, Lakwena drops off her children at school (if it’s her turn to do so) before heading to her studio. There, her duties run the gamut from taking care of administrative work to solving any issues related to running her studio—and, of course, painting. Some days will involve meetings with members of her team, journalists, or curators. And because Lakwena is a mother of two—with another child on the way—motherhood and family also take up a significant part of her life.
Recently, Lakwena has been thinking a lot about how polarized public speech has become—a theme she is exploring in her latest work. She has also begun seeking out opportunities to collaborate with communities in ways that genuinely benefit them. “I’ve done some of this kind of activity in the past,” she says, “but I would like to do more and find a way for it to become an ongoing part of my practice.”
The designs used in these T-shirts and hoodie were taken from a series of paintings that Lakwena created around the concept of home. “I painted them in and around my home,” she says, “so in a way it’s almost like these very personal paintings are now travelling around the world—which is really cool.”
PROFILE
Lakwena | Lakwena is an artist who was born in 1986 in London. She creates kaleidoscopic paintings that center around bold text. Lakwena is deeply interested in the idea of the artist as a myth maker and is exploring how this concept is applied in contemporary pop culture.
Release dates and prices may vary. Some items might be limited to certain stores or countries of sale or may be sold out.
©LAKWENA
