Custom sneakers like this Corita Kent “Rainbow Swash” Nike Blazer, that are inspired by random places are a favorite of us here at PaintOrThread. Created by the Boston-based artist Sab One, this Blazer mimicked the print of a gas tank turned Massachusetts landmark by pop artist Corita Kent in 1971. The 140ft gas tank is untitled but goes by the Rainbow Swash nickname and was actually the largest copyrighted piece of art in the world. Unfortunately, the tank had to be demolished but the print was remade on a neighboring one in 1992.
On the Nike high-top, Sab One started with a black and white base. The upper laid out a nice flat canvas to recreat the six color swashes on each side. A design instantly recongnizable by Bostonians and that surely stands out from many of your typical custom sneakers you’d see these days.
More work from Sab and inquires of commissioning his skills for your own custom can be seen and made at Instagram.com/sab_one
The inspiration of the Rainbow Swash tank designed by Corita Kent
Image via: http://forher.aleteia.org/ Getty Images: Paul Marotta