Graffitti, bold sculptural installations and dazzling city lights energize urbanites and inspire creativity. A vibrant form of expression, urban art is often depicted through a variety of grand, bold and very public media. This interesting art form takes root on city streets and manifests in the form of very public expressions. In recognition of that creativity and electric energy, Matrix debuts its 2012 Urban Art Collection, which seizes this unique genre, using its distinct languages to express the true artistry of hair. The entire Matrix portfolio, including SOCOLOR, Color Sync, Logics and Wonder Brown, are used to create the vivid and inventive "Urban Art" palettes.
This innovative, artistic movement is led by the Matrix Artistic Directors and creative visionaries Chrystofer Benson, Ammon Carver, Nicholas French, Patrick McIvor, Daniel Roldan, Brian and Sandra Smith and Nick Stenson. Each dynamic team was challenged to scout the urban landscape for inspiration, and ultimately embrace one of seven subgenres of artistic expression. The result: a color collection that is invigorating and inspiring, and reflects the energy, individuality, vibrancy and rhythm of city life. Each team also created three style iterations of their looks-Classic, Contemporary and Couture.
Since most urban art installations are temporary in nature, this concept is the perfect counterpart for the ever-changing hues and shapes of hair. "I know I speak for all of us when I say that this was a challenging project," says Ammon Carver. "We loved refining our ideas individually and then collaborating with the photographer in order to produce a cohesive and unique collection. We believe this collection will present the Matrix Color portfolio as color professionals have never seen it, and will lead them to imagine countless new ways that they can celebrate their color artistry and celebrate Matrix Color."
 |
 |
 |
||
| Cityscape | ||||
CITYSCAPE
By: Patrick McIvor and Nate Rozenkranz
The urban equivalent of a landscape, Cityscape represents the physical aspects of a city's dramatic skyline. McIvor's ultra light color design is inspired by the pale sandstone that is often mixed into a wide variety of concrete compounds, and accented with cool putty hues. High-lift pastel shades from SOCOLOR Ultra Light Blondes and Color Sync play starring roles in this palette, producing the elegant "uptown" blonde result.
ARCHITECTURE
By: Brian and Sandra Smith, Lenny Strand and Jamie Batzel
The planning, designing and construction of buildings and other urban structures, often perceived as works of art in form and function, led to this sun and sand color combination, embedded in a rich brunette base. Artful highlight placement allows the eye to move from "roof" to "foundation"-depending on whether the hair is styled up or down-much in the same way that the sun travels along the facade of a skyscraper from dawn to dusk. Wheat and gold hues from the LOGICS Colorcremes and LOGICS Imprints collections create the stunning highlight effect.
STENCIL
By: Daniel Roldan, and Victoria Yeremchuk
Roldan considered the grand scale transfers of an image through a stencil onto buildings, bridges and other urban structures when designing this polished alabaster and taupe color combination. Effective lightening formulas-including V-Light De-Dusted Lightener-produced these elegant, pastel blonde tones.
GRAFFITI
By: Chrystofer Benson and Sean Hayes
From simple written words to elaborate urban wall paintings, Benson sourced the richly colorful milieu of graffiti as inspiration for his electrifying color design. Bold strokes of red streak through an inky base like headlights would streak a wet street at midnight. Two distinct color collections from the Matrix and LOGICS portfolios are equally effective for creating this effect-Matrix SoReds or Logics Primary Concentrates.
KNIT BOMBING
By: Nick Stenson and Brad Prylinski
Texture meets color when art in knit form is displayed throughout urban landscapes in bright, vivid colors. Nick Stenson upends the concept of handcrafting with this Knit Bombing design, offering up a modern, copper-penny take on the ombre technique. The clear, vivid pure tone color of LOGICS supports this look, which strikes a perfect balance of seamless blending and high-impact accent color.
LIGHT WRITING
By: Ammon Carver and John Edwards
Light Writing is a photographic technique that captures exposures of light, creating an optical illusion of movement. Color and movement captured in time is an ideal expression for hair! Carver evokes that movement by embedding animated slashes of vivid blues, violets and magentas in a moonlit blonde base. Luminous Cream Lightener provides the perfect canvas for the effect, while Logics Primary Concentrates produces the powerful accent hues.
DISRUPTIVE
By: Nicholas French, Robert Santana, James Lathim
When urban expectations meet the environment, it leads the viewer to perceive the entire scene with new eyes and a new consciousness. This look merges unexpected eco-touches and hues in an urban setting, for a dramatic and richly rewarding result. Nicholas French and Robert Santana chose a lustrous, variegated brunette palette for this eco-urban interpretation using the SOCOLOR and Color Sync color portfolios.
Comments (0) 
Print this Article
Email to Friend
Find in
