Mars to Brooklyn by Mony Zakhour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSnkrs Day: You recently gave a painting to Spike Lee. How did that come about?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: I bartend at a bar in Kensington Market, Toronto. I had shown a friend of mine, McLean Greaves, an image of my Mars Blackmon piece. He told me that Spike Lee was a former client of his and he could get in touch with him to see if he?d be interested in having the painting. The next day my friend sent me the screenshot of the Twitter conversation with Spike tweeting, ‘Send it to this address.’ Spike never paid for it, and I never asked for him to pay for it. I was just happy to give him the painting. When Spike himself sent a Tweet directly to thank me, I couldn?t have been happier.<\/p>\nTweet from Spike Lee to Mony Zakhour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSnkrs Day: What did that mean to you as a fan and as an artist?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: Spike Lee is one of the most influential figures in my life. I?ve been a fan of his work for as long as I can remember. So, it meant a lot to me.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: What?s the first pair of shoes you bought with art money?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: It was the Supra Skytop TUF; the fall edition in red, black, and grey. They?re the only pair of Supra?s I?ve ever owned. I?m hoping to buy a pair of the Supra Cutlers with my next commission.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: When did you become interested in sneakers?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: My fondest and first sneaker memory was when I was eight years old. The Jordan 7s were released that year and my cousins, my brother, and I needed to have them. That Christmas, my parents, aunts, and uncles all surprised us with a pair of shoes each. I?ve been a sneaker fan ever since.<\/p>\nAir Jordan 7 "Raptor"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSnkrs Day: What importance do sneakers hold in your life?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: I?m big into fashion, and I also played ball my junior and senior years in high school, so my closeness to sneakers was and still is major. Whether for sports or fashion, my shoe game is important.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: What?s the sneaker culture like where you live?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: In Toronto, the sneaker scene is vast and constantly seems to be growing a lot like snapbacks and vintage clothing. There isn’t much you can’t get in Toronto. There are sneaker boutiques and vintage shops everywhere.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: How do your passions for footwear and art intersect?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: Sneakers have become synonymous with urban\/hip-hop culture whether it be Run DMC?s adidas, break dancers and their Chuck Taylors, or Buggin? Out losing his mind on the corner after having his Jordan?s scuffed. There has always been a connection. My paintings have an urban sensibilitym and I?ve been influenced by artists like Spike Lee who speak from that experience. The two naturally go hand in hand.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: I?ve read that Basquiat is a big influence to you. What are your thoughts on the Reebok line inspired by his work?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: Reebok is re-inventing its image, and I love that they incorporated Basquiat?s work opposed to using a Chagall or Warhol. It gives a vibrant and urban feel to them. I?d have to say the Pumps are my favorite Reebok\/Basquiat pairing.<\/p>\nReebok Pump Omni Lite from the Basquiat Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: Many painters with an interest in footwear have gone the custom route. Is that something you?ve pursued?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: I?ve never before, but definitely plan to do so in the future. Customizing skateboard decks is also something I want to get into.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: What sneaker holds the most artistic value to you?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: I love what Spike has done with the Spizikes, both creatively and artistically. It?s a great sneaker.<\/p>\n
Snkrs Day: What do you love most about painting?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: There?s not much I don?t love about it. It?s a great escape for me to be able to listen to music and just paint for hours. I love that. Painting has given me something to be proud of. Something I always find joy in doing. But, what I love most is the feeling I get when I put the finishing touches on a painting I?ve been working on for so long.<\/p>\nJean-Michel Basquiat Portrait by Mony Zakhour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSnkrs Day: Much of your work is portraits and landscapes. What elements are important to capture in both?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: I’m really passionate about landscapes, but unfortunately, I don’t get to do them as often as I’d like. They?re the pieces I try and have the most fun with. Not capturing the realness, but the raw and sort of colorful side and giving them a vibrant twist.<\/p>\n
With portraits, it?s important for me to really capture the emotion of the subject I?m painting. I?m a bit of a perfectionist. I?ll work and work on it until I feel it comes out right. It?s finished when you can really feel the character in the finished piece.<\/p>\nRay Charles & Bob Marley portraits by Mony Zakhour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSnkrs Day: What advice would you give to an aspiring artist?<\/strong><\/p>\nMony Zakhour: Do what you love. People will catch the appeal of your work if you stay true to it. Network, network and network. I?ve met so many great people after moving to Toronto last year who?ve helped me get my work out. Also, exposure. You have to get your work out there for more people to see. Use whatever tools you have to get your work noticed.<\/p>\n
Check out more of Mony’s work on his portfolio site and keep up with his art on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yo Mony, it’s gotta be the art.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2415,"featured_media":204427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618,51],"tags":[1225503],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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