Freedom Under Rough Years

Freedom Under Rough Years showcases the work of multi-talented local artist Nicholas Gates.

Through his work with dance, sculpture, and fashion, Gates celebrates the elements of hip hop, particularly graffiti and b-boying. He created his first sculpture, a piece mourning the death of his grandmother, during a ceramics class in high school. This sparked a passion for sculpting, and after its completion, he began a sculptural series representing figures from the golden age of hip hop. Sources as diverse as Michelangelo, graffiti, manga, and iconic hip hop album covers influence Gates’ work. He has completed a commission for Ice-T, and his artwork is in the collections of Jay Z and Kanye West.

Gates finished a sculptural commission in 2009 for the film Step Up 3D, released in 2010. This project created new opportunities for him when friends encouraged him to design a clothing line based upon his artwork. With the goal of promoting the idea that a young African American man from the inner city could produce art, he took the bright, colorful palette of his sculptures and applied it to the pieces in his new urban fashion line, Kid-N-Clay. It features unique takes on classic fashion staples, including five panel hats, letterman jackets, and button down shirts. Gates gradually began to integrate LED technology into clothing for performers at Hip Hop Foundation Fanatics, his dance studio. His current project is Techniride, an innovative new line of safety wear for cyclists, which fuses LED technology with sleek, attractive fashion.

Works Featured in the Exhibition

jayzweb

Nicholas Gates

Jay Z, 2002

Ceramic, paint, wood

Courtesy of the Artist

wetpaintweb

Nicholas Gates

Wet Paint, 1999

Ceramic, paint

Courtesy of the Artist

fatboysweb

Nicholas Gates

Fat Boys, 1992

Pictured from left to right: The Human Beat Box, Kool Rock-Ski, Prince Markie Dee

Courtesy of the Artist

cypherweb

Nicholas Gates

Cypher, 1992

Ceramic, paint

Courtesy of the Artist

beatstreetweb

Nicholas Gates

Beat Street, 1997

Ceramic, paint

Pictured from left to right: Lee, Crazy Legs

Courtesy of the Artist

blockpartyweb

Nicholas Gates

Block Party, 1998

Ceramic, paint, metal studs

Courtesy of the Artist

bushbabeesweb

Nicholas Gates

Da Bush Babees, Y-Tee, 1996

Ceramic, paint

Courtesy of the Artist

bushbabees2web

Nicholas Gates

Da Bush Babees, Baby Face Kaos, 1996

Ceramic, paint

Courtesy of the Artist

hiphopgirlsweb

Nicholas Gates

Hip Hop Girls, 1997

Ceramic, paint

Pictured from left to right: Pigtails, Red-T

Courtesy of the Artist

labelrepsweb

Nicholas Gates

The Label Reps, 1997

Ceramic, paint

Pictured from left to right: Pointing, Peace Sign

Courtesy of the Artist

nogameweb

Nicholas Gates

No Game Jacket, 2009

Jacket

Courtesy of the Artist

hhffweb

Nicholas Gates

H.H.F.F., 2009

T-Shirt

Courtesy of the Artist

hoodieshirtweb

Nicholas Gates

Iller Hoodie, 2009

Jacket

Historic, 2009

T-Shirt

Courtesy of the Artist

dressleggingsweb

Nicholas Gates

Iller Hoodie Dress, 2009

Shirt

Kid-N-Clay Leggings, 2012

Leggings

Courtesy of the Artist

glodrobeweb

Nicholas Gates

Glodrobe Moto Jacket, 2010

Jacket

Courtesy of the Artist

cardiganweb

Nicholas Gates

Kid-N-Clay Five Panel Hat, 2012

Hat

S. Cardigan, 2013

Sweater

Illest Tank, 2013

Shirt

Courtesy of the Artist

bigplayweb

Nicholas Gates

B.I.G.-N-Clay, 2009

T-Shirt

Courtesy of the Artist

dfsweb

Nicholas Gates

D.F.S. Jacket, 2011

Jacket

Fresh Till Death, 2009

T-Shirt

Courtesy of the Artist

PRESS

4/20/15: Fox 2 Now — Nick Gates on his work and Living Like Kings >

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