CISED: Hebru Brantley x Wilson Champion Edition Basketball

Feb 28

Feb 28 MeWeFree | Hebru Brantley x Wilson Champion Edition Basketball

I’m far from an expert, but I love art. I don’t know what it is about it, but viewing dope pieces of art makes me happy. It puts my mind at ease. Great art just makes life better.

Today I saw some art that really moved me. It is the new Hebru Brantley x Wilson Champion Edition basketball. I’m into designer basketballs. I’ve ordered some from Chinatown Market’s popular Smiley b-balls and a dope Spalding globe ball for my nephew. This Hebru Brantley jawn, is on another level, though. I want for myself. I don’t have the $250 for it right now (broke boi), but if it doesn’t sell out, hopefully, I can grab one later. Of course, I wouldn’t play with it. I’d just put it on display. I don’t expect it to be available for too long because Hebru Brantley is scorching hot and his items are highly coveted.

A few months back, my homeboy from Chicago put me up on Hebru’s art. Hebru is dope from what I’ve seen. I feel behind because he’s obviously been killing it for years without me knowing. If you’re more with it than I am, you’ve probably seen Hebru’s iconic Fly Boy and Fly Girl characters. This is his bio from his official website:

Hebru Brantley creates narrative driven work revolving around his conceptualized iconic characters. Brantley utilizes these iconic characters to address complex ideas around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power and hope. The color palettes, pop-art motifs and characters themselves create accessibility around Brantley’s layered and multifaceted ideas. Majorly influenced by the South Side of Chicago’s Afro Cobra movement in the 1960s and 70s, Brantley uses the lineage of mural and graffiti work as a frame to explore his inquiries. Brantley applies a plethora of mediums from oil, acrylic, watercolor and spray paint to non-traditional mediums such as coffee and tea. Brantley’s work challenges the traditional view of the hero or protagonist. His work insists on a contemporary and distinct narrative that shapes and impacts the viewer’s gaze. Recognized nationally for public works and solo shows in Chicago, Hebru Brantley has exhibited in London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York including Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami, Scope NYC and Frieze London. Brantley has been recognized in publications including the Chicago Tribune, Complex Magazine and NY Post. His work has been collected by The Pritzker Family and power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce. Brantley has collaborated with brands like Nike, Hublot and Adidas. Brantley earned a B.A. in Film from Clark Atlanta University, and has a background in design and Media Illustration.

Here’s the official description of the ball and a look at it:

Wilson's second Collab for Chicago with Hebru Brantley debuted during the city's celebration of basketball. With each individual panel drawing inspiration from different works by Hebru, the ball is a capsule of the Chicago native's mind - colorful, nostalgic, abstract, and inspiring.

Exclusive design featuring Hebru Brantley's iconic characters, colors, and style.

Featuring the famous classic Wilson script logo, synonymous with Chicago basketball.
Created by two Chicago natives and debuted while the global spotlight was fixed on Chicago basketball culture