PUMA meets
contemporary art

Doing his first steps into art at only 12-years old in Torrevieja, a town in the south of Spain, the 35-year old Argentinian-Spanish Felipe Pantone is now one of the worlds most recognizable artists. He graduated with a Fine Art degree in Valencia where his studio is based and is now most celebrated for his innovative approach to light, color, and shapes. His biggest statement is his work, that´s why the contemporary artist keeps his full identity a mystery by covering his face.

For his frescoes, paintings and sculptures he gets his inspiration from kinetics and experiments with contrasts, coloring and movements. His creations are dynamic and bring together past and future in a digitized version of the present. PUMA had a chat with him about his journey into the art world, how technology impacts his work and his first ever PUMA collection.

Felipe, tell us about your journey into the art world. You started as a graffiti artist; how did you transition into your current work?
By doing graffiti on the streets, I understood the importance of change, impermanence, and speed. It made me travel the world and connect with a lot of people in real life and on the internet. That somehow ended up being the core of my artistic discourse, exploring dynamism, transformation, connection, and the digital revolution.

Does your Argentinian-Spanish background have an influence on your art?

Not at all. I rather try to speak to our whole generation, not at all to any specific location. I believe that the Internet connected us and that we as a species are rowing in the same direction now, or at least that I think will be the tendency in the future.

You never show your face – do you feel this helps elevate the message of your art?
I want people to focus on my work and to not get contaminated with the way I look or what I do in my private life. I want to be from everywhere, nobody and everybody.

Your work includes a signature use of color gradients, saturation, and light. How would you define your style of art?

My work can be defined as a geometric abstraction that incorporates optical art and elements inherent in our present times such as computer graphics. The kind of color gradients I use were really hard to find in nature or art before the advent of computers. At the end of the day, I use imagery that’s intrinsic in our times.

 An innovative approach to light, color and shapes in your work comments on how technology has altered our perception of the world. How does the ever evolving and changing world of technology in the modern world impact your art?

I always keep an open mind regarding my art practice. I’m always looking for new technologies that might make possible new ideas. New materials, new applications, in order to materialize my concepts in the best way possible. We live in exciting times, where things are constantly changing and so is art.

What made you decide to work with PUMA?

PUMA has been doing great things in the last few years; I was aware of how much creative freedom they were giving to the collaborators they have worked with lately. I thought it would be a great match when the opportunity knocked on my door.

This collaboration features elements from the past and future meeting in a digitized, “glitched” sense of the present. What was the inspiration behind the co-branded collection?

For a long time I’ve wanted to create clothes that would have a real utility in my life at work and after work. To create the perfect studio uniform. PUMA liked the idea and they gave me complete carte blanche to create. It was a beautiful process between myself, a designer at my studio, and the designers at PUMA. I learned a lot out of this, and I love the result. The whole collection distills FP Studio digital and real life.

For this collaboration, your art was transformed into wearable pieces. How did you merge your design aesthetic with the PUMA brand to create the final product?

I had a very clear idea of what I wanted, what I needed rather, for myself and for my team. PUMA has the savoir-faire of how to create these pieces in the best possible way.

The collection features progressive designs that use semi translucent materials, gridded textures, and knitted elements along with futuristic gradient graphics and iridescent finishes. Tell us about a key look or favorite piece that embodies the collection.

We used many different technical materials that carry the DNA of the artwork I make at the studio. I love the Mirage Tech shoes. They represent the toughness of painting outside and the technology in the studio work.

How would you describe the collection in three words?

Tech. Street. Dynamic.

Add a tech-inspired aesthetic to your look and get your PUMA x FELIPE PANTONE pieces here.