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Curtis Kulig

Curtis Kulig

Artist. New York

Try spending a few minutes walking around SoHo with artist Curtis Kulig, and what would normally be a five minute stroll easily turns into twenty—simply due to the amount of people that either know or recognize this lower Manhattan face. He’s known for his ‘Love Me’ art, a globally loved tag that turned a passion project into a full-blown career. His triangular New York City loft resides directly above La Esquina (perfect for late night La Casa salads and Tina Tacos) and his pad is the ‘Love Me’ Mecca, a place where his famed quote is abundant and loud. As for how it got so popular? “I first did ‘Love Me’ in ’05,” Kulig told us. “I never thought it would become anything; now it's bigger than me. I hope it keeps growing. The end.” It’s just that simple! His style is classic (“white tee and jeans: easy breezy”) and filled with a major sunglass collection (“I like to find glasses or steal them from friends”). We shot Kulig on a piping hot day this summer, where we started out at his studio thinking it was his apartment and then with a little help from our friends, we finally found his crash pad. He filled us in on his recent laser eye surgery, spoke about his collaborations with Vans and Smashbox Cosmetics and showered us with stickers, pins and totes. While Coveteuring his closet, we even found some interesting noteworthy objects, including a watch that tells you what colour the Empire State Building is each month and why. Now, if only we could remember where he got it…

Vans asked me to do a shoe, and I said yes! I have never worn the 'Love Me' shoe, but I gave all mine to Sean Kinney and he wears them all the time.

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L to R. Top Row. Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig, Adidas; Bottom Row, Saturdays, Ralph Lauren

The Supreme bag is my laundry bag. Those are new watercolors I'm working on, and linen. I wish my clothes were spot free! Maybe you found the wrong items, because I feel like everything I own has a mark somewhere... except my suit.

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Shoes, Vans; Bag, Supreme

Snapshots from New York are for the new Saturdays magazine. I can play Nirvana on guitar. Favorite bands? That's hard! Currently I'm super into Arthur Russell.

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The neon signs are on often. They use little energy; at night, my windows are purple from the combo of the red and blue. That is one of my many slingshots.

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Shoes, Vans

L to R. Ties, In God We Trust, Alexader Olch, Dior

I don't wear things that swear. I think it's weird, but I do like this shirt.

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Shirt, Unknown Designer; Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig

Last magazine is great; Magnus and Tenzin are very talented. Bloody what's-her-name was funny to me at the time. I like images in fashion magazines. To read: I like New York Magazine & Thrasher. I like any travel, home and architecture magazines too. That watch tells you what color the Empire State building is each month and why; so sick.

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I bought this shirt in Coney Island for my girlfriend, and then she gave it back when we broke up; her loss. I love that Springer Spaniel. I had a Cocker Spaniel growing up named Axl, after Axl Rose. It reminds me of him. I like their sad eyes.

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T-Shirts, Various Designers

So funny. This is a Richardson Magazine shirt. Andrew XXXXX has good ideas.

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Shirt, Richardson Magazine

Shirt, Jack Spade; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike; Hat, Fair Ends; Sunglasses, Polo Ralph Lauren

T-Shirt, The Reformation; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike

The sign is made by Yaniv Evans; he has a motorcycle company called Power Plant in L.A.

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Hats, Various Designers

The 'Fuck' hat is written by Robert Crumb; he's amazing. They were given to me. I have one in tan too. I work with a neon master by the name of Jeff Friedman. Love Magazine is a great magazine that you will hopefully know even better soon. I like Ellen von Unwerth's earlier stuff the best, and I really like her as a person.

Read More

Hats, Various Designers

This is one of those hipster record players that are small and sound really nice. Probably with a Miles Davis record on it.

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Black Shoes, Opening Ceremony; Grey Shoes, Common Projects

My style is classic. White tee and jeans: easy breezy.

Read More

Clothing, Various Designers

My most prized posession is my neck pillow for the plane - someone special gave it to me. My favorite shirts? UNIS makes the best tees ever. As for favorite brands? APC, Jack Spade, Reformation, Dries van Noten, Ralph Lauren, Saturdays and Acne.

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Clothing, Various Designers

Gorden is the best! I don't collect lighters. BVF leaves them everywhere and they add up.

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Lighters, Baron Von Fancy

The concept for 'Love Me,' came about naturally and the meaning of it is constantly changing. It's whatever it means to you, I guess.

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My weapon of choice is Golden Oils. I get everything from Soho Arts on Wooster. They have taken care of me for years, and it's family run. Secret stores? I don't think anything in New York is a secret anymore. I live in a comfortable place and work in a big dirty shithole.

Read More

L to R. Watches, Rolex, Swatch

The black leather bag is designed by my friend, Corto Moltedo, in Paris. I can't travel without it. The frames on the wall are photos I shot in a nude beach in Jamaica. If you are wondering where they actually came from, that's Frameworks on Great Jones.

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Flannel Shirt, Supreme; T-Shirt, Deer Dana; Shoes, Vans; Leather Bag, Corto Moltedo; Tote Bag, Tom Binns

The hats are very expensive. I paid top dollar for them. I wear them to block the sun, usually. The Warhol Basquiat photo is from Ricky Powell: the man, the myth, the legend.

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Hats, Supreme

These are something that didn't come out. They are crazy comfortable. Comfort is big for me. The deck is painted by none other than Harif Guzman.

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Shoes, Nike; Hat, New York Knicks

The watch is called a 'Folex.' As for travels? Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Paris, Italy. Vacation in Jamaica and Turks...or just Miami. I just got back from Amsterdam, Paris and Istanbul.

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The APC glasses on the [sunflower] someone left at my place. If they are yours, come and get them. I like to find glasses or steal them from friends.

Read More

Sunglasses, Various Designers

Love Me' started in 2007. My gallery in N.Y.C. recently closed, so I'm hoping a man of great distinction calls me from Los Angeles: he knows who he is. I have been honoured to have lots of icons and idols purchase and trade work. Steven Arroyo has some of my first pieces, for sure.

Read More

Shoes, Vans

Nike running shoes are so comfortable they could def be my go-tos. That or Chucks.

Read More

Shoes, Nike

A dream collab for me would be Tom Ford or Karl Lagerfeld, because I have a feeling their OCD might be greater than mine. Shooting is a huge passion of mine: Polaroids and film. My favorite photographers are Kenneth Cappello and Curtis Buchanan.

Read More

Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig

T-Shirt, The Reformation; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike

Vans asked me to do a shoe, and I said yes! I have never worn the 'Love Me' shoe, but I gave all mine to Sean Kinney and he wears them all the time. L to R. Top Row. Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig, Adidas; Bottom Row, Saturdays, Ralph Lauren

The Supreme bag is my laundry bag. Those are new watercolors I'm working on, and linen. I wish my clothes were spot free! Maybe you found the wrong items, because I feel like everything I own has a mark somewhere... except my suit. Shoes, Vans; Bag, Supreme

Snapshots from New York are for the new Saturdays magazine. I can play Nirvana on guitar. Favorite bands? That's hard! Currently I'm super into Arthur Russell.

The neon signs are on often. They use little energy; at night, my windows are purple from the combo of the red and blue. That is one of my many slingshots. Shoes, Vans

L to R. Ties, In God We Trust, Alexader Olch, Dior

I don't wear things that swear. I think it's weird, but I do like this shirt. Shirt, Unknown Designer; Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig

Last magazine is great; Magnus and Tenzin are very talented. Bloody what's-her-name was funny to me at the time. I like images in fashion magazines. To read: I like New York Magazine & Thrasher. I like any travel, home and architecture magazines too. That watch tells you what color the Empire State building is each month and why; so sick.

I bought this shirt in Coney Island for my girlfriend, and then she gave it back when we broke up; her loss. I love that Springer Spaniel. I had a Cocker Spaniel growing up named Axl, after Axl Rose. It reminds me of him. I like their sad eyes. T-Shirts, Various Designers

So funny. This is a Richardson Magazine shirt. Andrew XXXXX has good ideas. Shirt, Richardson Magazine

Shirt, Jack Spade; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike; Hat, Fair Ends; Sunglasses, Polo Ralph Lauren

T-Shirt, The Reformation; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike

The sign is made by Yaniv Evans; he has a motorcycle company called Power Plant in L.A. Hats, Various Designers

The 'Fuck' hat is written by Robert Crumb; he's amazing. They were given to me. I have one in tan too. I work with a neon master by the name of Jeff Friedman. Love Magazine is a great magazine that you will hopefully know even better soon. I like Ellen von Unwerth's earlier stuff the best, and I really like her as a person. Hats, Various Designers

This is one of those hipster record players that are small and sound really nice. Probably with a Miles Davis record on it. Black Shoes, Opening Ceremony; Grey Shoes, Common Projects

My style is classic. White tee and jeans: easy breezy. Clothing, Various Designers

My most prized posession is my neck pillow for the plane - someone special gave it to me. My favorite shirts? UNIS makes the best tees ever. As for favorite brands? APC, Jack Spade, Reformation, Dries van Noten, Ralph Lauren, Saturdays and Acne. Clothing, Various Designers

Gorden is the best! I don't collect lighters. BVF leaves them everywhere and they add up. Lighters, Baron Von Fancy

The concept for 'Love Me,' came about naturally and the meaning of it is constantly changing. It's whatever it means to you, I guess.

My weapon of choice is Golden Oils. I get everything from Soho Arts on Wooster. They have taken care of me for years, and it's family run. Secret stores? I don't think anything in New York is a secret anymore. I live in a comfortable place and work in a big dirty shithole. L to R. Watches, Rolex, Swatch

The black leather bag is designed by my friend, Corto Moltedo, in Paris. I can't travel without it. The frames on the wall are photos I shot in a nude beach in Jamaica. If you are wondering where they actually came from, that's Frameworks on Great Jones. Flannel Shirt, Supreme; T-Shirt, Deer Dana; Shoes, Vans; Leather Bag, Corto Moltedo; Tote Bag, Tom Binns

The hats are very expensive. I paid top dollar for them. I wear them to block the sun, usually. The Warhol Basquiat photo is from Ricky Powell: the man, the myth, the legend. Hats, Supreme

These are something that didn't come out. They are crazy comfortable. Comfort is big for me. The deck is painted by none other than Harif Guzman. Shoes, Nike; Hat, New York Knicks

The watch is called a 'Folex.' As for travels? Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Paris, Italy. Vacation in Jamaica and Turks...or just Miami. I just got back from Amsterdam, Paris and Istanbul.

The APC glasses on the [sunflower] someone left at my place. If they are yours, come and get them. I like to find glasses or steal them from friends. Sunglasses, Various Designers

Love Me' started in 2007. My gallery in N.Y.C. recently closed, so I'm hoping a man of great distinction calls me from Los Angeles: he knows who he is. I have been honoured to have lots of icons and idols purchase and trade work. Steven Arroyo has some of my first pieces, for sure. Shoes, Vans

Nike running shoes are so comfortable they could def be my go-tos. That or Chucks. Shoes, Nike

A dream collab for me would be Tom Ford or Karl Lagerfeld, because I have a feeling their OCD might be greater than mine. Shooting is a huge passion of mine: Polaroids and film. My favorite photographers are Kenneth Cappello and Curtis Buchanan. Shoes, Vans x Curtis Kulig

T-Shirt, The Reformation; Jeans, A.P.C.; Shoes, Nike