Kevin Lyons x HVW8

Some new work from the HVW8 camp has emerged. First up is their contribution to the Barack Obama campaign and, I think, will be available as a print from their online-store and gallery in the near future.


Next up they have a painting of the Dalai Lama who China are trying to portray as an instigator and a terrorist in the aftermath of the recent troubles in Tibet, which is the most absurd thing ever and a nation that has so many human rights violations and 're-education camps' for people speaking their minds has no business hosting the olympics. It is an absolute disgrace that they were awarded the games in the first place as the way they govern their people doesn't exactly fit in with the ethos of something as grand as the Olympics.


The day before Ty comes up to the Academy to speak and paint they're opening the Kevin Lyons show at their gallery off Melrose and it should be more than worth seeing.


Kevin Lyons is a 1992 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where he received a degree in film. After working for Nickelodeon / MTV as an Associate Producer, he co-founded the NYC based design firm, stereo-type which for two years was responsible for much of the graphic look of the New York City underground Hip-Hop and Acid Jazz scene. This included the logo design for the long standing NYC based club, GIANT STEP. Stereo-type's client list also included Soul Kitchen, 555 Soul and the LA-based, Brass Recordings. After receiving his masters degree from CalArts in 1998, Lyons has gone on to work for Nike, both in and out of house, was the former Art Director of Urban Outfitters on two separate occasions, and has been Art Director for filmmaker Spike Jonze's Girl Skateboard Company. He was also the original US Art Director for TOKION Magazine and maintains long-standing freelance relationships with Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Stussy and Stussy Japan, Beams Japan, HUF, Nieves Books, Stones Throw Records, Commonwealth Stacks, and long-time friend and collaborator NYC artist, SSUR.

A typographer, an Art Director, a designer, a teacher, and a father. In 2001, he was named as one of "The Top Forty Designers Under Thirty" by ID Magazine. His work has been published worldwide from Thrasher to The Face to Lowdown to Anthem and Refill. He has shown worldwide including solo shows in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo. He has written articles for the AIGA Journal, as well as addressing the AIGA on two occasions including once as a published recipient of its Fresh Dialogues Series. He has also held teaching assistant positions at both RISD and CalArts, and has been a visiting critic at the Yale Graduate School of Design. He was an Assistant Professor at the Pratt Institute teaching Typography from 2000 -2002. Most recently, Lyons was the Design Director of the legendary Stussy and then Creative Director for the alternative retail giant, Urban Outfitters from 2003 - 2007.

He is now the Design Director for New York City based Anomaly, a brand incubating, marketing juggernaut with plans on running the world. He also produces three clothing lines; one for 2K called Atlantis, We Free Kings, and the third under his personal namesake, NATURAL BORN. All are distributed globally. Currently, Lyons also maintains his own small experimental graphic project also under the namesake, Natural Born in Philadelphia , PA where he lives with his wife and two daughters drawing type and bumping Twin Hype.

Printed Ephemera and New Works
by Kevin Lyons

Opening Friday, May 9th, 6 - 10 pm,
Show runs May 10th - June 15th

HVW8 Art +Design Gallery
661 N. Spaulding Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Gallery open: Wed - Sat, 1- 5pm
Or by appointment:
323 655 4898

To buy HVW8 t-shirts, paintings and prints look here and why not subscribe to the HVW8 podcast here.

HVW8 is 10 years strong this year, and here is to another 10!