Artist Piet Parra is responsible for several of the most popular Air Max 1 designs in Nike history, including 2005’s Brownstone/Blue Reef-Dark Oak version. Since his last Nike release in 2009 Parra’s work evolved from typographical illustration projects to experimental abstract paintings exhibited in galleries. So when Nike asked the Dutchman to come up with new designs for the Air Max 1 and Zoom Spiridon he began with a simple question: “How could I do something that has not already been done?”
Parra found the answer by melding his current abstract style with the flat graphics of his original works. “I made a drawing first and then thought, ‘How can I get a shoe to be involved in this piece?’” he says. “Back in the day, I was thinking color blocking. I didn’t think about that this time. I just wanted to make cool work and then see how the shoe can relate to it.”
The Nike X Parra Air Max 1, Zoom Spiridon and matching tracksuit will be available from July 21 at nike.com.
