In this on‑site interview at New York Fashion Week 2018, host SPEAKER A talks with visual artist Adam about his newest body of work, the series “Progression of an Argument.” Adam explains that the series depicts the emotional trajectory of a romantic argument, moving from calm order to chaotic climax, a scenario he says most people recognize. He reveals that the paintings were created entirely in New York City, with the final pieces finished in Central Park while a Grateful Dead summer concert played in the background. Adam recounts how his earlier participation in an Art Basel Miami event with Style Fashion Week led to an invitation to the Spring Fashion Week show, and how that experience sparked his own foray into fashion design, including sneakers, dresses, and women’s high heels. He cites Miami’s pervasive fashion culture as a key influence. Throughout the conversation Adam expresses a desire for collectors to purchase the works, preferably keeping them in New York, and emphasizes the inspirational energy of the city and the surrounding artistic community.
Chapters
Here we are with Adam, and Adam is the artist, one of the artists that was chosen to be part of Style Fashion Week. And honestly, you're very lucky to be here, right?
Oh yeah, so happy to be here.
Yeah, and this is some of his art with his signature A. And tell us a little bit about yourself.
This is my newest series. It's called Progression of an Argument, and it's about an argument between a man and a woman. And it starts out peaceful and orderly and moves over towards the end where it kind of ends chaotically. And it's a situation that I think everybody's been in, an argument with a significant other, and the emotions that come with it, and that's what it's about.
Okay, and you're expressing it all through art. I love it. And it does tell a story.
Yeah, and it was all made in New York City especially for this show. It's one cohesive series.
And I mean, when you're here and surrounded by so many artists, it must be inspiring for you.
How could it not be? It's unbelievable. When you get to New York, you just feel the energy as soon as you get here. I actually finished the pieces in Central Park, and Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead was playing a summer show in the background. Which was really incredible. Yeah, it was really magical.
That is magical.
Really something else.
Actually, I would have really liked to have been there.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
It was great.
So tell us how you got invited to be part of New York Fashion Week.
I originally did an event for Art Basel in Miami last year with Style Fashion Week, and they invited me out for the Spring Fashion Week, and that went so well that I wanted to come back, and here I am.
Excellent. And tell me a couple of the things that are like golden nuggets for you. Well, your reasons why you're so happy to be here.
Oh, I'm getting into fashion design myself. I do some sneakers and dresses and high heels for women, and it's so inspiring to see all the work here. Yesterday they had xKawaii, which is one of my favorite fashion labels. Their stuff is incredible. It's really cool. Excellent.
So what do you want to be happening today to make it a successful day for you today?
Well, I'd love somebody to come along and buy these paintings and take them home. I like to find them a nice home.
I like that idea.
Do you want them to stay in New York, or it doesn't matter? It'd be great. You know, they were made here. It'd be nice if they stayed here, but I just hope it's a great person, someone who likes them as much as I do, and that's what matters.
Excellent. And what inspires you to be an artist going into designing fashion?
Well, part of that's Miami. Fashion's very big down there, and everybody's dressed up all the time. You can't go to the grocery store without seeing a fashion show. So it's hard not to pick it up.
And you see art all around you, and you just want to be in the middle of it.
Yeah.
Well, great. Well, we're so happy that you're here. We watched many, many people stop and want to know exactly what the story is and be able to read the story. And I think you're sharing so much with the, with the audience and adding a whole new dimension.
