Vans x Yusuke Hanai Event Recap

Last Friday we hosted an event that is definitely one for the books. Japanese artist, Yusuke Hanai, and the jazz duo The Mattson 2 turned our two-room boutique into one mega enchantment above the sea. The soiree started right after sunset, during social hour, and thanks to Goose Island Brewery and Rasta Tacos everyone was treated to copious amounts of tasty IPA’s and scrumptious tacos.  

Yusuke displayed a number of his original works while signing his free, limited edition prints. For any of you that are unaware of who Yusuke Hanai is, here’s a short biography that helps sum up this amazing human.

Yusuke Hanai was born in Japan in 1978. At the age of 17 Yusuke gained a new found passion in art after discovering the Grateful Dead album artwork of legendary artist Rick Griffin. In an effort to capture the spirit of Griffin, Jack Kerouac and the '60's counter-culture movement of San Francisco, Yusuke left Japan for the United States in 2003 to study illustration at the Academy of Art College, San Francisco. Yusuke's artistic breakthrough occurred at the '06 Green Room Festival in Yokohama Japan when Laguna Beach based Wil Pennartz, owner/curator of The Surf Gallery was so impressed with Yusuke's sign painting that he invited him to participate in '07 The Happening in New York City. Expanding his illustration and fine art vision beyond his nostalgic roots, Yusuke continues to capture the hearts of many people worldwide. His artistic works have been exhibited in Australia, Brazil, California, London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo. Yusuke is currently living in Japan, where he continues his artistic endeavors as an illustrator/fine artist. 

While Yusuke was mingling with our friends and family, the identical twin guitar and drums duo, known as The Mattson 2, were mesmerizing the masses with their neon-punk-jazz wizardry of beautiful weirdness. The combination of Yusuke’s wonderful art display and The Mattson 2’s modern musical jam session made Friday, Feb 19th an evening to remember. A huge thumbs up to Vans for putting this whole shindig together. You fellas are the greatest.

Here are some pictures below shot by the one and only, Tom Green, that sum up this delightful event.