Steven Guo (b.2001), is a Ceramic & multi-media artist, based out of Beijing, China. He Specializes in creating ceramic artworks related to sneakers, fashion and toys, and at just 23 years of age, he has already worked with he has worked with Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Sneakercon, NBA, LNG Esports, REEBOK, Sean Wotherspoon, and Hypebeast, to name a few.
Hi Steven! It’s a pleasure to sit down with you! First question that I always ask. How does a regular day look like for you in Beijing?
I’m fine, thank you. I live in Beijing, the capital of China. This city is a city with a long history and many traditional ancient buildings. I can get some inspiration from this city.
So what do you enjoy doing and how do you spend your time?
I am a very creative and inspirational child. I enjoy creating creative things. In my free time, I play games, watch movies, and study.
How did you get introduced to ceramics and why is it your preferred medium of expressing yourself?
My father was a collector of some antique Chinese porcelain, and when I was young, I came into contact with the traditional porcelain of the ancient Chinese royal family.I think the lifespan of sneakers is limited. Sneakers will slowly start to pulverize and break over time, but porcelain can be passed down for thousands of years, and I combine the two to give our descendants a glimpse of the sneaker culture that emerged in the 20th century.
Ok, let’s change the subject a little bit…. How important is fashion and sneakers to you?
I think this is important because sneakers made me fall in love with art. At the same time, I have also collected a lot of sneakers, and I have gained some inspiration from them.
I’m asking because at some point you start mixing your two passions together, and creating ceramic sneakers. How long has it taken you to become as good as you are now?
I’ve been making porcelain for 6 years. I taught myself some porcelain, but I’m still a college student majoring in Visual Communication Design.
I know that you also collect sneakers. When did you start doing that? And how did you get introduced to the sneaker world ?
It was in junior high that I learned about sneaker culture. I fell in love with sneakers through TV commercials. Then I learned about Mark Smith and Tinker Hatfield, and I started to create some artwork for sneakers after I began to slowly collect some rare Nike samples. I’ve been collecting sneakers for 10 years now
With that in mind. What’s your opinion on resellers and “hypebeast” culture in general?
I think this has both advantages and disadvantages, as distributors often communicate product culture to consumers in the primary market. When hype appears in the secondary market, it conveys the value of the product to consumers.
I gotta ask. How many pairs do you have in your collection right now?
I currently have a collection of approximately 200 pairs of sneakers
Your work have been featured in some big name media platforms, such as Hypebeast, Nicekicks, NBA, to name a few. What’s that experience like, seeing your work in such renowned publications?
I am honored to collaborate with these brands, and I will work harder to create new works in the future.
Can you walk me through your creative process, from start to end result?
I usually get inspiration in life. And record them in my album. Then I will first imagine the perfect product in my mind, and finally I will organize the production process and start creating.
Can you describe your studio practice for me? And are there any necessities you have to have with you or present in the studio?
I often create works in the studio. I will put my iPad in my studio because I believe it is a great production tool for me.
What motivates you?
Perhaps it’s a dream, I often want to give up. Only dreams will inspire me
How would you describe a perfect day?
My perfect day is usually spent like this. I usually wake up at noon to create my artworks. I go to a restaurant to have my favorite dinner, and in the evening, I watch some TV dramas on my computer.
Alright Steven. I always ask these two questions at the end of an interview. The first is. What’s your favorite movie(s) and why?
My favorite movie is Forrest Gump. The film also contains profound themes, such as defining a healthy life, reflecting social changes, and exploring personal beliefs and values.
The symbolic significance and allegorical personal experiences in the film also enhance its artistic charm, such as the love story between Forrest Gump and Jenny, as well as the inspirational story of Forrest Gump overcoming his own shortcomings and achieving success.
The second is. What song(s) are you currently listening to the most right now?
I often enjoy listening to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” at work