PEOPLE | APRIL 2025
Artist Series 2025: Meet the Artists
Since we first opened our doors in 1993, artistry and craftsmanship have been an essential part of our world. Many of the signature styles you love feature original creations from both our own in-house painters and designers and external artists.
Every year we like to shine a light on this artistry with our Artist Series. For our 2025 Artist Series collection, we’ve commissioned three artists to create one-of-a-kind prints exclusive to Tommy Bahama. Here are their stories and the unique processes of bringing each special piece to life.
With an extensive career spanning art, journalism, photography, and writing, Alexandra Penney is no stranger to mixing mediums. “I started out as a painter but, as a single mother, I needed money,” she says. So began her journey into the world of magazines, starting out at Vogue, eventually becoming editor-in-chief of Self, and collaborating with legendary photographers along the way.
“Once I had a camera in my hands,” she recalls, “I couldn’t stop shooting.” Her 2025 Artist Series piece is no exception. Photographed with the natural light in her own kitchen, the flowers used in her designs were carefully selected from a local shop.
“Right after breakfast I head for the wholesale flower market and choose the blooms with the most interesting and unusual shapes and colors for the time of year,” Alexandra explains. “The first series I ever photographed was of flowers—beautiful irises, French tulips, peonies—and they have remained my favorites over the years. Photos of these are what I used for this piece.”
Digitally layering the flower images with her own abstract watercolor designs, the resulting piece is a dimensional and uniquely vibrant work of art—one bursting with color and energy, and a nod to our love and appreciation for the nature and world around us.
Even after 15 years (and counting) of working at Tommy Bahama, in-house artist Mitchell Green’s love for the island life is stronger than ever. Interested in art from a young age, he graduated with a degree in graphic design and found a job at Tommy Bahama, beginning as an Art Department Assistant.
“I learned a lot from senior artists here, and I’m really grateful for that,” he says. Now a Materials Development Manager, Mitchell still enjoys getting to define our iconic brand aesthetic.
“I love the idea of the island lifestyle—the bold camp shirts, the tropical plants—and I enjoy getting to paint and illustrate by hand, which is rare in the fashion industry nowadays. It makes our style unique.”
When it comes to finding inspiration, he often looks to his own life and the world around him. From childhood family vacations to Maui, to trips with his own family now, these memories serve as inspiration for many of his designs.
“For this piece, I referenced prints from our archives and was heavily inspired by paintings of palm trees, lush scenic vistas, and jungle foliage, as well as geometric tile designs for the border.”
To achieve the rich tones in his 2025 Artist Series piece, Mitchell used a new technique he learned at Tommy Bahama that’s similar to watercolor. Using special dyes for the indigo and blue tones, he then painted with bleach to create the highlights.
“The bleach acts like an eraser,” he explains. “By mixing it with water, it allows you to create different levels of shading.”
Steeped in a spectrum of rich blue hues and lifelike details, the result is a work of art that’s intricate, bold, and undeniably Tommy Bahama.
For decades, iconic surf artist Daniel O’Connor has been creating art that celebrates all things beach life. An invaluable part of the surf community, his art studio, Danny O Studio, is known for groovy, colorful designs that are beloved by people all over, whether they’re lifelong surfers or just love to watch the waves.
“I like to create fun, whimsical drawings that have layers of visual humor,” he says. And it’s true—the closer you look, the more there is to appreciate. From galloping dogs to skateboarders and unicyclists to even beach artists, Danny’s art rewards those who pay attention to the details with a playful wink and a sprinkle of sand.
For his exclusive 2025 Artist Series work, he partnered with artist Nina Zotcavage. With a background in fine-art painting and textile design, Nina’s style added a new dimension to the creation.
“In working simultaneously, we discovered a dynamic with a language based in color and design,” Nina reveals. “We loved the energy of painting on the same surface together, almost finishing each other’s strokes.”
Beginning with painting the canvas a base color, they layered on drawings in vine charcoal and colored it all in, one shape at a time. Once they completed the painting portion, the final step of the process was to vacuum off the charcoal, revealing the lines. “It’s a beautiful process,” Danny says.
The final product, much like the beach life it pays homage to, is vibrant, energetic, teeming with life—and makes for standout style.
“When people wear my artwork, I hope they feel like they just heard a good joke,” Danny says.
Own a Piece of Original Art
From vibrant florals to stunning indigo palms to a celebration of all things sun and sand, this year’s Artist Series collection has something for everyone.