Kesh (designer)
| Kesh Kumari | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 14, 1986 London, UK |
| Nationality | British |
Kesshia "Kesh" Kumari is an English artist based in Los Angeles.[1]
Career
Kesh was born and raised on the outskirts of London to a Malaysian father and Trinidadian mother. At age 17, she moved to London and began to design customized clothing for grime MC’s Jammer (rapper), Dizzee Rascal and members of Roll Deep.[2] Her distinctive artwork lead to subsequent features in i-D Magazine and her role as fashion editor at SuperSuper Magazine.[1] Simultaneously Kesh solidified her footprint in the emerging digital landscape: via the social network MySpace she began selling limited edition t-shirts of her artwork to an interconnected web of 77,000 friends - Kanye West among them.[2]
As her position in the world of fashion and music continuously overlapped, Kesh became a key figure in London’s nu rave scene. In 2006 - 2007 she DJ’ed various events and parties throughout London. After designing a London Fashion Week collection MAN for Topman,[3] she moved to New York City and launched her second collection show at Anonymous Gallery. In 2009, she co-created Hennessy’s first artist-designed label with David Burrows (artist).[4]
Kesh moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and set up her artistic sanctuary, the cave.[5] She then released her first three independent prints: FETRINITE (300/300), VELENE (74/74) and THE EYE 3 COLOURWAYS (50/50), all of which sold out.[1] Following her participation in Poland’s AYS Art Fair and an installation show at the W Hotel Paris, Kesh held her first independent show entitled ME.ME.ME in Los Angeles featuring 14 signed and framed 40x52 self-portraits.[5] The event was broadcast live via the web and viewed by her thousands of followers across the world.
Most recently KESH premiered her LJUS2 exhibition at the Catherine Ahnell gallery space in Soho, NYC. LJUS2 means "into the light". KESH lived within the gallery for a month prior to the opening, transforming the space itself into an art studio wherein she not only lived but also produced the works for the exhibition for the purpose of allowing collectors and media the ability to understand the artists work and process. These pieces are digitally manipulated from over 1,200 images, collaged and warped over perspex allowing light and shadow to fall through with natural and synthetic light.
In March 2015, Kesh sued Versace for copying one of her graphic tee shirt designs. The suit was setteled in 2016.
References
- 1 2 3 "Kesh Continues". Cool Hunting. 2011-04-05. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- 1 2 "Kesshia: Who's That Girl". RWD magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ↑ Emmanuel Ezugwu. "About to Blow: Kesh And Zezi: RWD Magazine". RWD magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ↑ "Kesh Kay + David Burrows = Dope Hennessy Campaign". Cheek Magazine. 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- 1 2 "Kesh: Modern Artist". Portable.tv. October 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-21.