Carlos Jiménez Varela is a creative director and graphic designer who had the opportunity to work with numerous high-profile brands like Oreo, VISA, Mazda, and Popeyes throughout his career. But this isn’t what he’s known for among internet users. Instead, it is his series of artworks that sees him plant giant sneakers in random real-life settings.
For Varela, sneakers are much more than footwear; they are also artworks for themselves and expressions of one’s style. Looking to incorporate his love for sneakers into his work, Varela started to photoshop them into urban environments.
“During my childhood back in the ’80s, sneaker technologies were starting to evolve, so shoes became more of a statement piece in your style rather than a performance product, “he shared the roots of his fascination with sneakers in a recent interview with OX Street magazine. “Air Max 1 was a really big thing. The fact that you could see through your shoe and walk literally on air was amazing.”
Sneakers are placed in unexpected locations and places, but in a way that makes them seem like they definitely belong there as a sculpture or public art installation. This includes Air Jordan 5 displayed in a metro station, Reebok’s Shaq Attaq chilling on a beach, and New Balance 990v2 model finding itself in the middle of the desert.
Continue scrolling to see more of Varela’s giant sneakers below.
