Phree

Live Phree / Be Phree is the mantra Phree lives by. In the life and studio of LA-based, creator Phree Hester, every action is an opportunity for creative self-expression. Phree is known for his unique artistic eye that goes against all social norms. Prolific in both fine art art and fashion design, Phree freely swaps between found objects and fashion materials to enrich each creation. His  work has largely been seen on many celebrities such as Chadwick Boseman, Swizz beats, Chris Brown, Goapele, Brandy, Jhené Akio and many more. Phree embraces telling stories in his stylized renditions of fundamental scenes of freedom, love, survival, activism, and history.

‍

His paintings are often layered with  fragmented juxtaposed images with vibrant hues, powerful imagery, text, and abstract brush strokes. Phree’s eye-catching iconography and palette which also appears in his original wearable art collection are Hand-painted by him, each fabric highlights a delicately detailed work of both surface and narrative, in the same process that expresses finding your PHREEDOM. 

‍

"Art and fashion have paved a way to discovering what true PHREEDOM looks like, unlocking expression and breaking all limitations set by society. The history of Art and creating a dialogue between the past, present, and future is what fuels my work. My style has evolved over the past 10 years as an artist and it’s time to share my Art with the world. 2020 hit hard on us all and through the confinement and restrictions, I found what it meant to be PHREE. Artists such as Rene Magritte, Picasso, and Basquiat have influenced my creativity and style to be fearless and bold.” - Phree Hester My art is like alchemy I am able to rearrange the inspiration into a new form giving the inspiration new meaning I like to think of my art as dialogue between past present and future DNA from the past to cook up the future 

‍

PHREE’s paintings are based on life experiences, as well as visual hip-hop lyrics through gestural marks and conceptual expressions. The paintings are often layered with fragmented juxtaposed images with vibrant hues, powerful imagery, text, and expressive brush strokes. Phree’s eye-catching iconography and the palette also appear in his original wearable art collection and are hand-painted. Each fabric highlights a delicately detailed work of both surface and narrative, in the same process that expresses finding your PHREEDOM. 

‍

Most recently, Phree has been collaborating with the HOOPBUS which drove across the country leading the Phreedom Riders of 2020 during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement to amplify the voices of the unheard. They became a symbol of Hope by using their gifts to create breathtaking imagery and text on basketball courts in the communities that they entered. Now a year later PHREE and the HOOPBUS have partnered with the NBA to spread the love for the game of basketball. 

‍