SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film Presents "Face Value" Sneaker Masks by Freehand Profit

Globally acclaimed artist displays more than 30 intricate sculptural masks made from rare sneakers in first museum exhibition

ATLANTA, GA - The Savannah College of Art and Design announces Face Value, the debut museum exhibition for leading-edge visual artist Gary Lockwood, also known as Freehand Profit, showcasing more than 30 of the artist’s elaborate deconstructed works made from rare and highly coveted classic sneakers.

Inspired by his lifelong love and affinity for hip-hop, graffiti, and anime, Lockwood began deconstructing rare, expensive, and collectible sneakers into intricate masks in 2010, a dynamic exploration borne of his innate love for sneaker subculture and graffiti artists, who often use respirator masks when creating their work. Since then, Lockwood has constructed more than 200 masks, typically fashioned from a single pair of shoes, “sampling” or “remixing” the sneakers’ raw materials. With these works, the artist seeks to expand the boundaries beyond the public’s traditional perception of sneakers, positioning them as sacred works of art.

Retaining the markings and style of the original shoes — including the Nike Air Max, Travis Scott Jordan 1s, Yeezys, glow-in-the-dark Doernbecher Jordans, Nike SB Dunks, and ASICS — the fantastical, three- dimensional masks engage ideas of real and perceived value. Lockwood’s works are homages to the emcees, DJs, graffiti artists, and b-boys who laid the foundation for hip-hop and sneaker culture.

“I am very excited to bring Face Value to SCAD FASH and Atlanta," said artist Gary Lockwood. "The show celebrates more than a decade of dedication — bordering on obsession — and reunites us all with my best sneaker mask work from collectors around the world. This exhibition is a chance to explore these works individually and as a whole, and I look forward to the insights we form together.”

Lockwood’s sneaker masks have gained a cult following among sneaker enthusiasts, athletes, rap and hip-hop artists, and collectors from across the world — notably among them Kevin Durant, Method Man, DJ Skee, Strange Music, and Iman Shumpert. The artist has also collaborated with adidas, Def Jam, Nike, Versace, Champs Sports, and others.

Face Value features an array of works borrowed from international collectors and is the artist’s first museum showcase. The exhibition coincides with the announcement of SCAD’s new sneaker design minor, driven by student interest and alumni success in the field. The minor will propel graduates to the top of a growing, lucrative market with enhanced professional credentials.

“We are thrilled to showcase Freehand Profifit’s incredibly thought-provoking work at SCAD FASH," said Rafael Gomes, curator and Director of Fashion Exhibitions at SCAD. "This exhibition will be an electrifying exploration into the artist’s tribute to sneaker culture, hip- hop, graffiffiti artists, and the world of anime, and is sure to excite our students and the community.”

SCAD students from the university’s top-ranked degree programs — including accessory design, fashion design, animation, fine arts, graphic design, advertising, and fibers — will have the opportunity to engage with Lockwood through a slate of exhibition tours, master classes, and other programming.

On view at SCAD FASH April 19–Sept. 11, 2022, Face Value is curated by Rafael Gomes, director of fashion exhibitions. For more information, visit scadfash.org.