26 March is a big day for all trainer fanatics – it’s Air Max Day – a celebration of the iconic Nike line that first launched on the same day in 1987. For 24 hours, Nike debuts special releases and brings back legendary designs and special colourways in honour of the franchise that solidified its position at the vanguard of culture, style, and performance.
It is the 36th anniversary of the Air Max 1, a shoe with an Air cushioning bubble that caused a footwear revolution when it was released. The Air Max’s design is rooted in the artworld as its unique footwear cushioning design of Nike Air Max and its famous visible air bubble was inspired by the Pompidou Centre in Paris and its ‘inside-out’ architecture. The Nike Air Max franchise grew from strength to strength, transforming from a running shoe to a lifestyle trainer with cult status favoured by style icons across the world. Today, the shoe has permeated global culture and its influence can be seen in work by prominent contemporary artists, highlighting the relationship between streetwear fashion and art and the fact that the shoe did not just transform running trainers, but also culture as a whole.
90s Shoe Box - Neon Red by RYCA
RYCA’s 90s Shoe Box shows Air Max’s famous urethane bubble foot cushioning in all its glory. This 2-colour silkscreen print features a range of Air Max styles, highlighting just how many fantastic creations we have to thank Nike for.
In Your Head by Copyright expresses, and links, the artist's love for painting and sneakers in a solid block colouring style derived from Pop art. The originality and expressiveness of the artwork, which uses a Nike shoe box as the canvas for a female portrait, perfectly encapsulates the ingenuity of sneaker culture.
AM90, Nike Air Max 90 by Nick Smith
AM90, Nike Air Max 90 is an ode to the Air Max in Nick Smith’s characteristic style. A balance of abstraction and figuration, this digital print is an original colour chip collage that creates the silhouette of the Nike Air Max 90. Snippets of text featuring humorous remarks, factual details, the names of designers and important dates are printed beneath each chip, enhancing the artwork’s enthusiastic tribute to the trainer. Simultaneously visually arresting and intriguingly informative – this is the perfect artwork for an Air Max fan.
Head over to our Air Max Day collection to discover the ultimate selection of trainer-inspired artworks from Copyright, Gemma Compton, RYCA, Haus of Lucy and Nick Chaffe. Don't forget to enter our exclusive prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a hand-finished, one-off print by RYCA.
