Artists Reimagine Carhartt WIP Classics for Office of Work® NYC Show

Office of Work® (OOW®) has partnered with Carhartt WIP for a three-part exhibition series featuring artists SuckyBat, Titus McBeath, and Dozie Kanu. These artists have reimagined iconic Carhartt WIP pieces, specifically the 60”x60” Dearborn Canvas and the Detroit Jacket, for display in OOW®'s window galleries located in Tribeca and Chinatown, Lower Manhattan. This collaboration transforms workwear into a canvas for contemporary art, engaging the public through OOW®'s global vitrine network, which was launched in 2023 by Rob 1970 and Eoghan Dempsey.

The exhibition is structured in three phases, with each artist taking over the display for a week. SuckyBat, a graffiti writer known for his distinctive bat tag across Manhattan, initiated the series. His contribution brings his street art aesthetic to the gallery setting, aiming to convert passersby into viewers. The second artist, Titus McBeath, an Ohio-born artist, draws inspiration from the American heartlands. His reimagined Detroit Jacket reflects a Midwest sensibility, featuring a design based on his grandfather's shirt, complete with a carved and painted red barn, ornamental details, and a kinetic flame addition.

Dozie Kanu, a Portugal-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans architecture, design, and contemporary art, concludes the series. Kanu returns to his photography background for his commissions, presenting two diptych-wrapped pieces. These works juxtapose screen-printed serene coastal landscapes, offering a distinct artistic perspective on the Carhartt WIP garments. The exhibition highlights the intersection of fashion, art, and urban culture, utilizing public spaces to showcase artistic interpretations of durable workwear staples.