People always say that you should never mix business with pleasure, but a couple who have managed to do it successfully are Adrian and Shane, founders of the Adrian+Shane brand.
First coming to our attention because of a video on YouTube documenting their latest art project, Adrian+Shane’s art quickly became something we craved. Shane told So So Gay just how they first met in 1998, ‘Adrian came over to visit me while I was studying architecture in the Glasgow School of Art. Adrian brought over a bottle of Blackcurrant Absolut Vodka from duty free and we both got very drunk while listening to very loud music and began painting together in a pad … the rest is history’.
Adrian+Shane Tshirt Design
So where do their designs come from? ‘We originally began making the T-shirts to wear ourselves at our exhibition launches. After posting photos of us wearing them (on Facebook, Twitter etc.) we were inundated with requests from people wanting to know where they can get a T-shirt from? So, we started selling them online in early December and they’ve really taken off. We kept the price very reasonable and we don’t charge any extra for shipping’. But wait, what about the issue of working together, and how did that come about? ‘It’s not something we ever discussed. It really just happened organically. We make art together because we love doing it. We would still do it even if we weren’t making any money from it,’ say Adrian.
Their work has taken them all over the world; Adrian explains: ‘we currently have work on show in an exhibition in Los Angeles. Then we’re planning new Adrian+Shane exhibitions in Barcelona, London and Liverpool later this year’, Shane adds, ‘there’s also one or two exciting collaborations in the pipeline too’.
But love and business, do they really mix? ‘We love working together. It’s great to have someone with you to inspire and support you. It’s not always fun and games but the rewards are great. It’s worth it in the end’. Enough said, we think.
All images are replicated with permission from Adrian+Shane
Adrian+Shane Kiss Painting
About the Author
Subscribe with iTunes
