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Damon Brown’s art will be showcased in the latest of the Starbucks Artist Collaboration Series, which celebrates the unique stories of artists from all over the world. His pieces of drinkware will be available in participating U.S. and Canada Starbucks stores starting Jan. 30. He was inspired by the idea of community, deliberately integrating the viewer’s perspective into the artwork. 

“It’s as if you’re walking down any street, they are walking with you,” he said. “It’s drawn like you’re behind them, or you’re in the community with them walking parallel as they go by.”  

For the color palette, he chose soothing shades of pale blue, green and cream with a 1960s vibe. “The color is an intentional play on the classic color palette of red, black and green that you may typically see represented in Black art or during Black History Month— to make it more modern and purposeful.”  

The design’s graphic elements convey a modern sensibility. “There was a conscious effort to put a stylistic modern shape with this movement and put some hairstyles in there with some different braids and those kinds of things that you classically don’t see on merchandise,” he said.  

Three pieces of drinkware are featured each one marked with Damon’s brand name, Creative Lou, based on a nickname from childhood:

“In the background, the shapes show community,” he said. “I created them so that you feel represented, and you feel your place.” 

“My goal for this collection was for it not to feel that it’s one month only – but taking it farther and giving you something more artistic that can be enjoyed and celebrated beyond February – when it should be every day for us.”