Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries
66 Fifth Ave
Parsons School of Design

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.


Jeff Staple, Illustration

Jeff Ng (aka “jeffstaple”) is an established graphic and fashion designer, curator, branding expert, footwear aficionado, and all-around creative visionary. He founded Staple Design, Inc. in 1997: now a well-known streetwear brand (@StaplePigeon), creative consulting agency (Staple Design) and retail concept (@ReedSpace, founded in 2002). Some clients include HBO, Levi’s, Sony, Microsoft, Nike, Burton Snowboards, LVMH, Uniqlo, Kid Robot, Kia and ESPN. Over the years, Jeff has taken Staple’s motto, “A Positive Social Contagion” to whole new levels, spreading his instinctual design know-how and fresh knowledge across all media platforms and worldwide.


CREDIT: Arash Fewzee, MFA Photo ’17

Head Lines

Jeff Staple, Illustration
2010
Wood, silkscreen, ink

This piece is a massive enlargement of an actual headline from The New York Post newspaper on Nov 4th, 1983. The case involved Michael Jerome Stewart from Brooklyn, NY, who was a graffiti artist that died following an arrest by NYC Transit Police for spray-painting graffiti on a subway station wall at First Avenue. The piece is a reflection of the constant struggle between authorities and at-risk youth and their options for self-expression. It is also a nod to how artists and creatives are “beaten and strangled” by corporations and society at large.

How would you describe your day to day job and/or artistic practice?

Constantly finding the balance between passion and RENT.

Would you describe your career path as typical? Why or why not?

No. I dropped out of both schools. Started my brand in the silkscreen lab of Parsons and the rest is history.

In what ways have your identities impacted your education and career paths?

Being a minorty in every aspect of my life and career is constantly on my mind.

Posted in Artists.