Sneakertopia
Los Angeles
Where:6081 Center Drive, Suite
222, Los Angeles
When:Through Dec. 31
Info:sneakertopia.comSMOLUK’S20-foot Adidas
covered in candy wrappers.LATIMES.COM WSCE F3
Sneakertopia, a 15,000-square-
foot celebration of sneaker culture,
has taken up residence at the
HHLA complex in Westchester,
where it will remain through at
least the end of 2019. Getting in the
door isn’t inexpensive (timed en-
trance tickets are $38 for adults,
$23 for kids), and actually finding
the door can be a bit challenging
(it’s in a former department store
space in what used to be the Prom-
enade at Howard Hughes Center,
just off the 405).
But guests clearing those hur-
dles will find themselves sur-
rounded by some seriously mind-
bending sneaker-themed art, not
to mention some of the rarest
sneakers around.
The brainchild of entertain-
ment executive Steve Harris and
startup entrepreneur Steve Brown
and curated by Justin Fredericks,
the temporary exhibition, which
opened Oct. 25, is divided into a se-
ries of themed rooms, each ad-
dressing a different aspect of
sneaker synergy. It starts off, ap-
propriately enough, with “The
Playground,” dominated by a se-
ries of murals.
Notably, the first up is a tower-
ing midswing image of tennis great
Serena Williams by artist James
Haunt, with text and typeface pay-
ing homage to Virgil Abloh’s quote-
mark-heavy Off-White style. Dis-
played in a nearby case are several
pairs of Nike x Off-White collabora-
tive kicks. Nearby is a Michael Jor-
dan mural (also by Haunt) and a
selection of Air Jordan sneakers,
also in museum-like vitrines.
On the opposite side of the
room, an entire wall by muralist
Jonas Never pays homage to skate-
boarding legends Tony Hawk,
Steve Caballero and Lizzie Ar-
manto while a 20-foot skateboard
provides the perfect prop for an In-
stagram post.
Next up is “The Festival,” the
largest room in the exhibition,
which highlights music’s connec-
tion to sneaker culture via a series
of colorful murals by L.A.-based
graffiti artist Man One (Kanye
West, Rihanna and Pharrell
Williams are among those whose
sneaker collaborations are de-
picted), a motion mural of Run
DMC (also by Man One in collabo-
ration with Syndrome Studio) and
a performance stage designed to
look like an Adidas shoebox. (Fred-
ericks said the stage will be used for
events during Sneakertopia’s run.)
Among the coveted kicks dis-
played here are a super-rare pair of
Air Jordan 4 Retro Encore sneak-
ers (only 23 were made), a 2017 col-
laboration between rapper Em-
inem and the brand that Freder-
icks says are priced at $25,000.
Those sneakers, like the rest of
the non-art footwear on display —
200 pairs at any given time — are
from a 25,000-pair collection
amassed by L.A. collector Daniel
Ghattas.
“We’re featuring [shoes from]
probably the world’s most expen-
sive collection,” Fredericks said,
before dropping the other shoe
that the sneakers on display are forsale (if your wallet is big enough) —
though only through the on-site
gift shop.
If the rare sneakers aren’t
enough to get sneakerheads over
to Sneakertopia, the deep bench of
sneaker-themed art probably will
be, including the parody movie
posters by McFlyy in “The Back-
lot,” which explores sneakers in the
movies (including a sneaker-cen-
tric faux sequel to “Forrest Gump”
and a “Back to the Future” film set
in 2120), and the pieces in the art-
focused “Art & Sole Gallery,” which
includes Jason Dussault’s mosaic
sneaker creations, customized
kicks by Torrance-based Katty
Customs, and a 20-foot Adidas
Superstar made out of recycled
candy wrappers and cardboard by
Montreal-based artist Smoluk.
The “Dream Room,” the penul-
timate stop on the Sneakertopia
tour, is dominated by the mostmemorable piece of art in the ex-
hibition: a hanging mobile-like
sculpture by perceptual artist
Michael Murphy. Viewed from
straight on, it resembles a three-di-
mensional, outsize Air Jordan 1.
But as you move left, the shifting
point of view reveals the instantly
recognizable Jumpman logo.
Sneaker culture has become big
business, of course, a point not at
all lost on the exhibition’s organ-
izers, who tackle the topic — twice.
The first time via a parody pop-up
shop called Frugal (“If Supreme
and Flight Club had a baby, this
would be their room,” reads the
sign at the entrance). The second
time via the exhibition’s gift shop,
called Limited Edition, which will
stock limited-edition, constantly
updated T-shirts, art prints and
pieces of art, including versions of
Murphy’s and Dussault’s sculp-
tures.Behold the sneaker elevated to art
The L.A. pop-up exhibit
Sneakertopia showcases
some pricey, rare kicks and
celebrates the shoe culture.
By Adam Tschorn
MURALSand a 20-foot skateboard greet visitors to Sneakertopia, an immersive, shoppable exhibit dedicated to sneaker culture.Photographs by Myung J. ChunLos Angeles TimesTHE BEST IN MODERN DESIGN
COSTA MESA, LA JOLLA, PASADENA, SANTA MONICA, WEST HOLLYWOOD
1.800.944.2233 |Find all California locations at dwr.com/studios.
*Free shipping is valid on Herman Miller products shipped within the contiguous U.S. and Canada. Exclusions apply.
©2019DesignWithinReach,Inc.Beautifully crafted,
forever loved.
THE HERMAN MILLER
®
SALE- FREE SHIPPING*
10modelhomes
1,364to2,615sq.ft.
2to4bedrooms
2.5to3.5bathsAnticipatedfromthe
high$500Ksto$800KsSOMETHING
BEAUTIFUL
IS IN
THE WORKS
The prices of our homes, included features, plans, specifications, promotions/allowances, neighborhood build-out and
available locations are subject to change without notice. Stated dimensions, square footage and acreage are approximate
and should not be used as a representation of any home’s or homesite’s precise or actual size, location or orientation. No
informationormaterialhereinistobeconstruedtobeanofferorsolicitationforsale.ABroker/Agentmustregistertheirclient
in person on client’s first visit at each community for a Broker/Agent to receive a referral fee, if available. Unless otherwise
expressly stated, homes do not come with hardscape, landscape, or other decorator items. Any photographs or renderings
used herein reflect artists’ conceptions and are for illustrative purposes only. Photographs or renderings of people do not
depict or indicate any preference regarding race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, familial status, or national
origin. Our name and the logos contained herein are registeredtrademarks of TRI Pointe Group, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
CA Contractor’s License No. 1018637. CA DRE License No. 02025660. © 2019 TRI Pointe Homes, Inc., a member of the
TRI Pointe Group. All rights reserved. 11/19Three, bold new-home
collections and artful, boutique-
styled, community gathering
spaces are coming to Center
City Anaheim in early 2020.
MyHomeMyCanvas.com
EXCLUSIVE MEET THE BUILDER EVENT
on12/7.Call(714)710-8201toRSVP.