Anthony Amos

Anthony obtained his high school diploma from Bolingbrook High School in 2007, and went on to get a one-year diploma in graphic designing from The Arts Institutes in 2008.

His sense of style, personality and dedication allows him to create customized sneakers for his clients that reflect their personality, their life, and their style.

Anthony’s carefully designed customizable sneakers are perfect for any special occasion.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I got started with art at the age of 4. In the summer, we had a ridiculous amount of dandelions, which attracted bees that stung me every day. After a few attacks, I developed a horrible fear of bees and chose to play inside. The story goes that my mom was looking for a way to deal with my boredom, so she gave me crayons and construction paper to occupy me.
I started taking drawing seriously because it gave me a sense of identity and accomplishment. By the time I was 10, I was taking summer classes at the Art Institute of Chicago, which I’d been visiting for years with my grandmother. She worked downtown, so on the weekend she would take me around the city. By exposing me to local art and industry professionals in the industry, my grandmother affirmed to me that art is a worthwhile pursuit. I would study the artists we had seen in order to impress her with my amateur knowledge of fine art masters.
That year, I was also introduced to my long-term mentor Patricia Moore, who went on to mentor me for 20 years. She had a very gentle yet firm way of building my self esteem, as well as encouraging me to take risks with my creativity. She also taught me the importance of pride, ethics, and integrity as an artist. She had a way of appeasing my little ego by taking me into the galleries she managed nearby, and allowing me to sit in on hers and her contemporaries’ formal critiques and showings.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“My artwork is about one thing: my desire to say, ‘I was here, I lived. Remember me.’ Under the surface, there’s an understanding of me as a person wanting to relate with the outside world through the lens of the young '90s era kid. The '90s were a time of extremes. We had access to so many new and exciting things, yet we were exposed to the pressure of adult world too fast. We were a generation who saw teenage gun violence televised, and on that same channel watched family sitcoms like Family Matters and Full House.
The pressure to be seen as masculine weighed heavy on me—a skinny, short, Black boy with an interest in art, which wasn’t as broadly accepted as playing sports back then. Perhaps my subconscious compulsion to depict heroes is related to my feelings of vulnerability. I often paint vestiges of athletes such as Muhammad Ali, who I praised for his tenacity, fearlessness, and toughness, but also his integrity to stand up for equal rights. I idolized Bruce Lee for the same reasons, and paint him often. Some of my work is just about the joy of being a little boy and how fun it was to see Optimus Prime transform, or watch Bugs Bunny trick Elmer, or watch Michael Jordan float from the free throw line!
I also occasionally create portraits of everyday people affected by current hot button issues. I attempt to tell the story of those who feel voiceless from the lens in which I see them, hoping to humanize them to my audience and hopefully provoke an action response, or at least understanding and sensitivity. My recent work on Cannabis Law Reform and the injustices surrounding the topic best show that (see below).”

Are there any art world trends are you following?

“I’m happy that the Memphis style is being revived and used. Artists are reviving the bright colors, shapes, thick outlines and patterns that the 1980s artists pioneered. It’s trending now in graphic design, gaming and fashion, showing up as funky retro design patterns with energetic yet simple themes. I enjoy including this style as patterned background, giving my work the retro appeal I grew up with.
As a Chicago native, I naturally follow street art movements. Today’s street art is very politicized. With influences like Banksy and his social commentary, it’s hard not to be inspired. The pandemic was a great time for street artists. As social and economic issues arose, artists globally expressed the state of emergency, and I took notice. I use the street art style on canvas and sneakers when I want to make bold and dramatic statements. It’s perfect for catching one’s eye at a time that our attention span is considerably shrinking.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“I do both, allowing the spirit to move as it pleases. I’m most successful when I don’t plan a piece. Planned work can feel like a chore to me, and I tend not to let newfound inspiration join the process.”

What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?

“I work with multiple mediums, from watercolor, to pastel, to acrylic. I’m currently enjoying acrylic leather paints and leather as a canvas. Leather can be unpredictable and unforgiving, which is fun for me, and each type of leather requires its own preparation process and aftercare.
A portrait on leather is likely to be done in more layers than on canvas, and almost never alla prima. I prefer to use sable or squirrel brushes for their ability to produce fluid linework and carry pigment, which allows for smooth blends and high precision. Painting sneakers is always an exciting challenge between good composition and color choice. If the composition is off, then the theme won’t be well communicated. I focus on using the shoe’s parts and stitching to create leading lines, guiding my audience to the focal point.
When preparing for my designs, graphic or realistic, I prefer to start by figuring out the placement and size of the focal point, usually the person’s head. Once the sketch is complete, I block in the colors in the hair, side of face, and neck area, usually from warmest to cool. This helps me frame my subject’s features. Next come the lower shadows on the face, which I do to further render out the details. Moving up, the lighter values are added to give the subject more life. I noramlly do my backgrounds last — they are the anchor to the piece, so I want to appraoch them with caution.”

What does your art mean to you?

“My art is my source of pride. It’s the one thing I do best; the one thing no one can take away from me. It’s the very proof of my existence and represents me at my best. I can confidently say it’s what will be talked about most when I’m gone, and is mostly what is talked about in reference to me now.
My art is sacred. It provided me a safe space from adults in school who thought I was lazy because I was different. They would throw my drawings away, report me to my parents, and then smile about it.
My art is a legacy of healing. Not only for me, but for the people I’ve impacted. I never thought this once shy, meek boy would create a youth program servicing underprivileged kids. I’ve helped them start thinking critically about their impact on society, and its impact on them. I mentor children in the same environment I was bullied in. I’m able to make a difference across Chicago because children love art and sneakers, and that’s my legacy.”

What’s your favorite artwork and why?

“I wish I knew. My own works feel like teenage love — beautiful, innocent, but fleeting. My favorite style is portraiture. Something about capturing the greatness of a person in one single moment moves me. A portrait tells us more than words can.
Maybe my favorite piece is Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. The significance Michelangelo put into the distance of God and Adam, representing the gap between God and man, is outstanding. Maybe also the self portraits of the iconic Frida Kahlo, who understood the power of her image.
Actually, my favorite piece is one of mine. It’s a portrait of my son. I painted it to represent the innocence of a father-son moment at the park.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“Over the last few years, I’ve been focused on making an impact on the youth with my nonprofit and mentoring less privileged artists. I hope I’ll have the privilege to exhibit my work in the future, and I hope it makes as big an impact as serving my community has.”