‘‘Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life’’
-Bill Cunningham
And that is most certainly true for these one-of-kind Dust of Gods pieces. After seeing his jackets online, I knew I had to get my hands on one of Anthony Ricciardi’s pieces and wanted to know his whole story!
I got to hang out with Anthony this week where he does most of his work- an old greenhouse turned into a paint studio. Once I entered the space, I knew that he was the kind of person that liked to push the boundaries.
The walls were literally covered in paint. A perfect storm of colour and hidden messages.
And the best part? The thing that intrigues me the most?
Anthony is colour blind.
Like most of us (millennials) he went the (semi) conventional route. He went to Alabama on a baseball scholarship and once completing his undergrad, ended up with a job as a financier. Being the creative he is, he still turned to painting as a way of expressing himself. Influenced by his uncle who was also a painter, music and everyday life, he continued working on what he loved.
His passion and perseverance allowed him to put on two successful art exhibits where he showcased many of his pieces catching the attention of many. It wasn’t until an opportunity came to him a second time (which does not often happen) that he decided to quit his job and do what he loved- I mean how much better can this story get?
He started on canvas and as his talent developed so to did his medium. He loved to create and took his paintings from canvas to denim. His ability to create one-of-a-kind pieces caught the attention of two investors who Anthony took on as partners. With their help he was able to take his passion to a new level – his jackets are currently sold in Toronto and LA.
With the dust of the old- using vintage jackets- and layering imagery of gods and hidden messages between layers of paint and snake skin, Dust of Gods is born.
My favourite is this white Versace jacket he was working on.
It is literally a work of art.
“…armour to survive the reality of everyday life”
and it is dope AF!!!
His explanation for these works of art?
If you really love something, you just have to keep working at it. That’s how you become better.
His work is a testament to that and now some of the dopest artists are wearing these jackets.
When I asked him what he does when he feels uninspired he tells me that he just does. Out of creating, something new is born and that is how 1 of 91 came to be.
Anthony told me that he was just sitting there one day when he started putting vintage pages from a magazine together. Like his canvas paintings and his jackets he layers old comics or images from magazines incorporating the imagery of a god and adding more layers of paint and spray paint.
Out of nothing comes something and 1 of 91 is created.
Anthony’s passion is not driven by money but rather the desire to always keep creating and to share what he makes with the world. His story and passion are like his art- one-of-a-kind.
He wants his art work to be accessible to everyone and while not everyone
can accommodate a huge painting, they can certainly make room for a smaller piece like this one.
So if you didn’t know, now you know!
Anthony is not only extremely talented and driven but he is super nice and down to earth. Make sure you keep up with him here and here – because he’s got some exciting projects underway
and order a limited 1 of 91 pieces or his DOPE AF jackets cuz they’re Lit!
Thanks Anthony for allowing me into your space and for sharing your story!
KM