STYLE | May 2023
A Brushstroke of Genius: 2023 Artist Series Spotlight
We've spent 30 years honing our craft, honoring artistry, and designing quality pieces that last a lifetime. From our signature camp shirts to our beloved MLB® prints, art and design have always been at the heart of our mission to bring something extraordinary to the everyday.
Our annual Artist Series Collection is one way to celebrate artists around the world who share our affinity for living in a paradise state of mind. This year's collective was strategically hand-picked for their connection to the seas and brought to life our theme for the 2023 collection, A Life Aquatic.
We spotlight four of this year's artists and dive into their lives, work, and inspirations. BEPPE SPADACINIGrowing up in Cernobbio, a small town on Lake Como, Beppe Spadacini was drawn to art at a young age. When his father, a gardener, brought home a Hawaiian postcard he'd found while working, a creative spark was ignited for 10-year-old Beppe. At 16, he began apprenticing in illustration. By 22, he had his own studio and worked to sell his designs.
Moved by the striking tropical landscapes of Hawaii, Indonesia, South America, and especially Bali, Beppe traveled the world seeking inspiration for his famous designs. Over the years, he has become one of Italy's top textile experts and has worked with many renowned luxury fashion designers. But his art doesn't end in the fashion world, Beppe's work has expanded into art exhibitions, illustrations, murals, ceramics, and books.
His 2023 Artist Series piece is a melding of two vintage pieces masterfully engineered to captivate the viewer. At once striking and dreamy, it's a testament to Beppe’s legacy as a master artist and illustrator—and a hearkening back to that 10-year-old boy and his postcard
One of Tommy Bahama's very own in-house artists, Rizu Ito was born in the United States and raised in Japan. A lifelong passion, her love of art began at an early age. Starting in junior high and continuing through college, Rizu has studied watercolor painting, product design, oil painting, art history, and fine art. Now, as a contemporary artist, she has a particular interest in printmaking, sculpture, installation, and textile art.
Throughout her career at Tommy Bahama, she has used many different paint mediums, but watercolor is a personal favorite. This watercolor piece, inspired by her recent hobby of painting oceans and boats, is a love letter to Nantucket, Massachusetts.
“Nantucket is the perfect representation of Living the Island Life—it's relaxed without necessarily being tropical,” she explained. Each motif was individually hand-painted and constructed into a narrative scene that instantly inspires a sense of calm and peace.
“I hope anyone who wears this print feels like they're on vacation, even if they're just going about their everyday routines.”
Find more of her work on Instagram at @rizuliz.
TAYLOR SLATER
Born and raised in South Florida, Taylor Slater is a multi-media artist who is constantly inspired by the world around her. From sunny skies to majestic ocean waves, nature and its boundless beauty is a recurring muse and frequent subject of Taylor's art.
Beginning her career in graphic design and lifestyle photography, Taylor later shifted her focus from digital art to painting. Through these various mediums, she explores the power of the natural world to influence and evoke emotions in people. Her 2023 Artist Series piece is a magical moment caught in time—of roaring waves, golden sunlight, and a surfer riding in the middle of it all. An avid surfer herself—and daughter of pro surfer Kelly Slater—Taylor hopes this picture captures her love for the deep blue and will inspire others to join the fight against plastic pollution.
JUSTIN W. COXFrom designing showrooms and store windows to styling photo shoots and playing in a punk-ska band, Justin W. Cox's creative career has spanned over 15 years and a wide range of mediums. His work has been featured in premier publications, retail stores, offices, and galleries around the world. Taking an “on-demand” approach to his art, Justin works closely with clients to create custom pieces and interior spaces that match their own unique tastes.
Growing up near the Jersey Shore and spending days on the water, he draws inspiration for his designs from the motion of the sea. His dynamic creations are a collision of pure, bright colors mixed with fluid strokes and smears.
This art is no different, created with acrylics smearing and scraping to generate a sense of motion and speed. “I took cues from Tommy Bahama's iconic logo and additional research of marlins breeching the water,” said Justin. “The intensity of the colors and the way the paint smeared from the side of the fish into the tail capture an amazing strength and intensity.”
Find more of his work at on Instagram @justinwcox_paintings or justinwcox.com
HOME IS WHERE OUR ART ISFrom acrylic paints to photography, shirts to shorts to dresses, every artist boasts a distinct approach that makes for beautifully unique works of art. Explore the entire 2023 Artist Series Collection to add an exclusive one-of-a-kind piece to your wardrobe.