It’s the start of the World Cup year in South Africa, and in commemoration of this milestone, PUMA have commissioned international artist Kehinde Wiley to create four original works of art inspired by some of Africa’s greatest soccer hero’s - Samuel Eto’o, John Mensah and Emmanuel Eboué. The portraits were unveiled in Berlin on Wednesday 20 January, and will travel as an exhibition beginning in February to Paris, London, New York, Beijing and Milan, ending in South Africa in June for the World Cup.
PUMA, best known for the sponsorship of 12 African national football teams, is expanding its reach beyond the pitch by creating African-inspired lifestyle products and artwork that is relevant and understandable to a younger generation in tandem with Wiley. To that end, Kehinde Wiley has also lent some of his unforgettable patterns to the PUMA Spring Summer 2010 PUMA Africa lifestyle collection of apparel, footwear and accessories. The PUMA Africa collection uses seven graphic patterns from Wiley’s existing work and integrates them throughout the bright, bold, color-blocking patterns of the collection. The collaboration between PUMA and Kehinde Wiley is part of a larger Africa-themed campaign PUMA is embarking on in advance of World Cup 2010, which will be held in South Africa in June.
Can’t wait to see this range in store!