SCAD’s latest exhibit ‘Freehand Profit: Face Value’ takes sneaker art to new heights

Sneakerheads everywhere rejoice! This recent SCAD FASH exhibit is the perfect mix of sneakers, fashion and art.

If you have a chance to check out the latest exhibition at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, “Face Value,” I highly recommend doing so. The cutting-edge exhibit features visual artist Gary Lockwood, also known as Freehand Profit, and more than 30 of his deconstructed sneakers from his extensive collection.

Freehand Profit at his Face Value exhibit, SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, Access Atlanta

This exhibition is so timely because The Savannah College of Art and Design is now the only university in the world to offer an accredited degree program in sneaker design. Alexandra Sachs, SCAD FASH’s Executive Director, says they took that into account and the cultural relevance of sneakers when deciding on the exhibit. “Part of it came out of the sneaker designer minor and just the interest in sneakers as a fashion accessory and how they’ve become really important culturally,” Sachs told Access Atlanta. “We were thinking we would do something about sneakers or some kind of sneaker design exhibit and so as we were looking into it, that’s when we discovered, just looking through Instagram, reading about sneakerheads, that’s what led us to Freehand Profit’s Instagram and we felt like this just takes it a step further. This is somebody who has such a deep, deep appreciation for sneakers and sneaker design and he’s a sneakerhead himself, that he has transformed them into something altogether new. It’s like design becoming art.”

Face Value exhibit at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, Access Atlanta

Profit’s eclectic collection was birthed out of his love for hip-hop, graffiti and anime. For his designs, he deconstructs rare, expensive and collectible sneakers and turns them into intricate masks. He’s remixed shoes including the Nike Air Max, Travis Scott Jordan 1s, Yeezys, glow-in-the-dark Doernbecher Jordans, Nike SB Dunks and ASICS. Sachs hopes this exhibit, and all their exhibits can push students to think outside of the box. “If it can inspire our students to think about new ways of creating things or using materials in unusual ways then it’s served its purpose.”

Face Value exhibit at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

Courtesy of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, Access Atlanta

The exhibit is available to see now through September 11. For more information, you can visit scadfash.org.