art

My Closet

For his solo exhibition, My Closet, Utah artist TY utilizes the most simplistic, yet iconic article of clothing in the American wardrobe – the t-shirt – as his canvas. Exploring concepts around branding implications and how we express ourselves through what we wear, TY reflects on his own creative journey as an artist and the important role this simple material has played within it.

“My Closet represents the journey we all go through to find ourselves,” says TY, who, through this body of work, bares his soul about depression, dreaming big, experiencing doubts, learning to trust the process, and more.

When it comes to his choice of medium, the artist explains the important symbolism behind the t-shirt: “I've always wanted to create; back in high school I decided I wanted to start a clothing brand and years later, in college, I did. However, I didn't realize how much the business side of things would kill my creativity. I was also young and learning a lot about myself at the time. Eventually, some more years later, I realized I only wanted to create for the sake of expressing myself, and that’s the day I became an artist. But I still had an affinity for clothing and I envisioned my feelings in the form of t-shirts.”

Several pieces in the collection are collaborations with other artists, both emerging and well-established, who TY has invited to help bring his exact vision to life. Atom Bomb, for example, was illustrated by David Gambale, a.k.a. World B Omes, the illustrator behind the Beastie Boys’ famous album cover, License to Ill.

The design of each shirt, however, is only one element of the finished piece: every detail has been carefully considered as part of the composition - from the tags to the material - in order to transform it into a distinct work of art. Each piece is also accompanied by a digital 3D clone; this intentional decision is meant to push the relationship between the physical and digital artwork of the future.

As a whole, TY’s artwork and concept for My Closet asks us to dream big, believe in ourselves, and follow our passions despite internal or external voices that might tell us not to.