Support MCA Chicago via the Joshua Vides x Converse Chuck 70 Benefit Auction

Contemporary artist Joshua Vides has had a handful of memorable crossovers into the sneaker world in recent years, notably when he added cartoonish line-art decorations to classic shoes. It was far from a gimmick; his style has inspired a new generation of sneaker customisers, and his wearable footwear art has been legitimised further with official collaborations with Converse. Now, his latest assignment could be one of his most significant – and limited.

To make this project happen, Vides has painted his largest canvas to date – a whopping 4 x 40ft (approx. 1.2 x 12m) sheet – using his signature black and white hand style. After applying a geometric pattern, this sheet was sent off to Converse, where they used it as the literal canvas for 30 pairs of Chuck 70s, each with their own unique pattern. Finishing touches include removable Velcro ankle patches, and a custom tongue patch reading out Vides’ artist statement, which ends with a playful ‘please do not touch’ message. Definitely wear them if you want to!

This artwork has been produced in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago, and every pair of these Chucks will be auctioned to directly benefit the local art community. The auctions begin on November 6 and run until November 13 via Heritage Auctions.