On Thursday, January 30, Tequila Don Julio hosted an exclusive event at Chinese Tuxedo in New York City to celebrate the Lunar New Year in style. The occasion marked the launch of the Tequila Don Julio 1942 Year of the Snake Edition, a limited-edition bottle designed by renowned artist Sue Tsai.
The Knockturnal sat down with Tsai at the event for an exclusive interview. Tsai is an artist and designer from New York whose work has been showcased in collaboration with the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets, Puma, Netflix, Casetify, and many more.
Sue Tsai
Photo credit Sam Deitch (@deitchphoto)
Growing up, Tsai had always been creative, but she had never realistically envisioned becoming an artist and reaching the success that she’s had.
“I never thought art was going to be my career–there was always this notion of the ‘starving artist’ growing up,” she said. “Social media really turned things around for me and I started sharing the artwork I was doing. That gave me the inspiration to create more and create products from it. I started with phone cases and went from there”
Art has developed into an essential outlet of personal expression for Tsai.
“My art really reflects who I am and whatever I’m going through at the time..it’s really a form of therapy for me” she explained.
She draws inspiration from her favorite music and pop culture influences, as well as her love of nature. Tsai credits her ability to represent herself and her values of independence and female empowerment through art as the key to building her own brand.
Her art transcends mediums and has now appeared on tea sets, basketballs, clothing, and now tequila – but Tsai has never left her roots as a painter.
“Painting is the core of everything – everything starts from paper, pen, and canvas.”
The Lunar New Year partnership with Don Julio was especially meaningful for Tsai, who is Taiwanese-American.
“Lunar New Year is a really big part of my family traditions growing up…my mom used to make fa gao growing up” she explained, referring to “prosperity cake” which is traditionally eaten on Lunar New Year for good luck. “Now as I’ve gotten older, I try to pass my traditions to my friends and everyone around me.”
Photo Credit: Joanna Lin
The Year of the Snake Edition tequila bottle showcases a striking red and gold design, utilizing the colors for good fortune and prosperity. Tsai’s intricate illustration beautifully merges the Chinese Zodiac wood snake with the Aztec feathered serpent, interweaving the deep cultural roots of both traditions.
“The snake is the year of transformation and shedding skin, and I really feel like that’s the place I am right now. I’m ready to elevate and do things I never did before, so this really feels like a transition year.”
Tsai is looking forward to all of her upcoming projects this year, including a swimwear collaboration coming out in a few short months.
To view and purchase Tsai’s work, visit her website at https://sue-tsai.com/ and follow her on Instagram at suetsai.
