Houston-based creative and furniture designer Dozie Kanu moved to New York City in 2012 to attend the School of Visual Arts as a film student. His interest in object design grew out of an affinity for purposeful mise-en-scène. “I was into films that were really well art directed,” he says. “Stylized, Kubrick-esque films where everything in each scene was completely on point. That led to falling in love with gallery spaces. I would take complete days just to gallery hop. It was like church, kind of.” Dozie Kanu’s work on display at Salon 94’s “Midtown” at Lever House in New York.Travis Scott and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh in his corner as admirers.Kanu’s marble side table plays luxurious materials off everyday objects.
In April, luxury travel brand RIMOWA and Milanese creative studio/magazine KALEIDOSCOPE announced their joint project consisting of a short film, photo zine, and conceptual furniture crafted by rising artist and designer, Dozie Kanu in which the three intertwining activations link to celebrate both Kanu’s unique point of view, and Rimowa’s longstanding commitment to design (They also, recently did a collab with Supreme. RIMOWA suitcase is a status symbol for the traveling connoisseur, so, therefore, an ideal fit for Supreme’s more aspirational demographic).
Kanu created sculptural and functional works crafted out of luggage parts utilizing various materials alongside ribbed aluminum sheets, popularly found on RIMOWA’s signature luggage, to create the unconventional furnishings embodying a mix of high and low materials. “There’s always that level of relatability juxtaposed with luxury,” he says. “Something that’s really well done, but there’s something punk about it, something to throw it off. You have to add elements that clash.” The multi-platform project recently made its debut at Spazio Maiocchi for Milan Design Week 2018.
Grounded, humble and still only at beginning of his career Kanu envisions his as a generous practice — he is already thinking about inspiring the next generation. “Especially black youngsters in America. So many of them feel there are no alternatives to rap, basketball or, now, trying to be a fashion designer. There are so many lanes to take. I’m just trying to expose that to them.”
