I’ve always been drawn to artists with history who were part of culture before the institutions or platforms caught on. The ones who were printing shirts in garages, creating logos for bands, or starting small brands with big ideas. Some artists used T-shirts as an immediate and accessible way to share their voice. For me, that background makes their paintings more meaningful. It shows that they’ve lived through culture, contributed to it, and evolved with it. Point of Reference: T-Shirt to Canvas celebrates that journey.

Each artist is presented in diptych format: an iconic T-shirt paired with a current artwork or painting. This side-by-side display traces the evolution of their practice: from wearable art to fine art, from cultural moment to enduring legacy.

Point of Reference is an ongoing exhibition series exploring the cultural timelines of artists who shape and reflect their generations. Each edition focuses on a different creative language or form that has impacted how we see, feel, and move through culture.

For the inaugural edition, Point of Reference: T-Shirt to Canvas, showcasws how these artists have continued to share their experience through their own points of reference. It reveals that their sensibilities, ideas, and cultural touchpoints have stayed consistent through time, yet evolved in form. Their work represents more than aesthetics; it documents how creativity moves through decades, styles, and mediums while remaining rooted in authenticity.