Kozo, a New York-based tattoo artist, has made his artistic imprint on Maison Margiela in Miami’s Design District through a unique collaboration that began at a party. The partnership was sparked when Kozo attended a party hosted by Maison Margiela and Gentle Monster, where he was introduced to the Margiela team by his now-agent. What initially seemed like a simple party gift soon turned into a creative endeavor far beyond expectations.
“The sunglasses were meant to be shared on social media, maybe a quick tag. But I decided, instead of just posting it, I’m going to take it to my studio and show them what I really had in mind,” Kozo explained. He took the sunglasses to his tattoo studio and began tattooing them, starting what would evolve into a remarkable collaboration.
From there, Kozo extended his tattoo art to other Maison Margiela accessories. Using his signature style of hyper-realistic, classical artworks, he transformed bags to appear as if duct-taped and shoes that featured ink drips and butterflies emerging from rips. His tattoos gave these items a bold new twist.
“This is what I do on people’s bodies, and now I’m doing it on larger canvases, sculptures, shoes, and bags,” Kozo said. “It’s exciting to bring it all together and create a complete story. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m a huge fan of the brand and its edginess.”
In addition to his work with Margiela, Kozo is showcasing his art at one of Miami’s many art fairs. He shared that a couple who had recently purchased one of his canvas pieces stopped by the boutique to meet him. Kozo plans to stay in Miami for a few more weeks to savor the moment.
“I’m going to tattoo some friends in my hotel,” Kozo said, offering a casual invitation. One of those potential tattoo clients could be OTB president Renzo Rosso, who attended the Margiela event and was in town for the 30th anniversary of the Pelican Hotel, which he also owns.
“I went to Basel this morning to the fair,” Rosso remarked, noting that this year’s art fair was “much better than last year.” When asked if he had made any purchases, he remained discreet, saying, “I put in an order.”
Other notable guests included Paloma Elsesser, Saint Jhn, Selah Marley, Rickey Thompson, Miles Greenberg, and Brittany Byrd.
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