On Dec. 6, SpringHill teamed up with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and artist Ian Woods to introduce a custom design reimagining the iconic Bulleit bottle, in celebration of Springhill’s bold zine, The Program Vol. 3.
Hosted at the iconic Billionaire Boys Club flagship Miami store, SpringHill officially launched the The Program Vol. 3, a zine dedicated to celebrating the next generation of cutting-edge visionaries in Springhill’s Craft Class. Rapper and actor Joey Bada$$ served as a contributing editor.
Hosted at the iconic Billionaire Boys Club flagship Miami store, SpringHill officially launched The Program Vol. 3…the partnership with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and The SpringHill Company officially launched The Program Vol. III, a zine dedicated to celebrating the next generation of cutting-edge visionaries in Springhill’s Craft Class.
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey’s first major cultural activation We Aren’t Made to Be Still also made its debut at Art Basel by partnering with SpringHill to honor the innovative artists who dare to push boundaries in an immersive experience.
The group of artists were honored in the publication’s latest edition for their contributions to innovating across art, music and culture. Amongst the group is remix artist Ian Woods.
You may be familiar with Ian’s work. From Kim Kardashian and Zendaya to Kendrick Lamar and Lauryn Hill, Ian has developed his own recognizable style that easily sets him apart from the others.
From book covers to art galleries, Ian’s work has transcended its humble beginnings of social media posts. His deep appreciation for pop culture manifested at a young age and has since allowed him to emerge as a trailblazer in the contemporary art world.
The Dallas raised artist began posting his work daily online, sometimes making multiple posts a day. His work, which combines nostalgia with modernity and mixed media, reinterprets pop culture and its beloved icons as we know it. Notably, his distinctive pieces are all hand-carved collages of existing photos that are then obliterated and rearranged to accurately depict whatever the he’s feeling in the moment.
When SpringHill approached Ian to not only join the Craft Class but also co-create his idea of Bulleit Frontier Whiskey’s signature bottle, the young artist was excited for the opportunity to have full creative freedom.
“I was given images that I was really able to pull inspiration from…and not having constraints on what I wanted to create made the opportunity an easy yes. I was given complete trust, freedom and space to create freely and that is always a great relief,” said Ian.
We talked to Ian ahead of the big night to discuss his collaboration with SpringHill and Bulleit, his nerves about seeing his work in galleries, the pressures of social media and his plans for the holidays.
The Knockturnal: You’ve collaborated with Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and SpringHill for Art Basel 2024, creating a custom piece tied to The Program Vol. 3 zine that highlights rising innovators known as the Craft Class. How did this partnership come about and what did you enjoy most about having full creative freedom to represent the brand?
Ian Woods: I’m part of SpringHill’s inaugural Craft Class of emerging artists, so they reached out to me about the opportunity to collaborate with them for a custom Bulleit piece for the NEXT IN… launch event. I was given images that I was really able to pull inspiration from…and not having constraints on what I wanted to create made the opportunity an easy yes. I was given complete trust, freedom and space to create freely and that is always a great relief.
The Knockturnal: – In the past, you’ve mentioned feeling nervous about showing your work in galleries. Is that still the case? How has your work affected your confidence over time?
Ian Woods: I think nerves will always be there and vulnerability. The style(s) I’m known for has definitely given me a good amount of confidence in a sense that people know what to expect from me. But I still have that sense of nervousness that people might not like the way I did the style or trying to experiment with other ones.
The Knockturnal: – Social media has been both a platform for your success and a source of frustration, especially with the comments and how much Instagram has evolved over the years. You’re constantly posting your work, sometimes multiple times a day. How do you balance maintaining your mental health while staying visible and connected to your audience?
Ian Woods: I think I take healthy breaks from social media. It’s still hard to navigate sometimes but I feel like it’s way better than it was. At this point in my career I think my supporters know that I take these breaks and I randomly post many works at once, haha. I also stopped taking opinions so seriously that I do see about my work or art in general.
The Knockturnal: – There’s a quote from an interview you did some time ago that really stuck with me: “We are all multifaceted. All our parts have to be nourished and talked about, otherwise the bad ones get worse.” How do you nurture the different parts of yourself, both as an artist and as an individual?
Ian Woods: I take time for myself to go places with my son and girlfriend, I read books, go play basketball, go to the gym, play video games, hit up my favorite resale stores or estate sales. All these things fuel me in some sort of way.
The Knockturnal: – You often embrace imperfections in your process. Can you share a time when a “mistake” led to a breakthrough in your art?
Ian Woods: There was this one time where I threw a piece away and I had crumpled it. I took it out of the trash can and put sandpaper to it and it made a really cool distressed look and I’ve been using that technique ever since.
The Knockturnal: – How has moving from Florida to Texas influenced your artistic journey and passion for creating? And with the holidays approaching, do you have any special plans for celebrating with your family this year?
Ian Woods: It hasn’t really had its influence yet. But I think it definitely will in the future. There is a lot to see and visit in Dallas. Being near the city so far, I’ve seen a lot of things on the street that inspire me whether it be a raggedy thrown away cigarette box, graffiti, things from resale stores, or nice architecture. This will be my first Christmas in Texas around my son so I’ll definitely be spending it with him and the family I have in Texas.
Image courtesy of SpringHill