Meet the Students Behind Rebellion III 🎨
“We are proud to partner with emerging talent from the Academy of Art University’s fashion department in San Francisco to create wallcoverings that blend artistry with high performance—offering designers a nontoxic, sophisticated, and safe option for their clients' homes.”
- Black Crow Studios Founder, Tracy Hiner
“We are proud to partner with emerging talent from the Academy of Art University’s fashion department in San Francisco to create wallcoverings that blend artistry with high performance—offering designers a nontoxic, sophisticated, and safe option for their clients' homes.”
- Black Crow Studios Founder, Tracy Hiner
Artist Claudia A. Nicholas
Born in San Diego CA, raised in Tijuana, BC.
“Being raised between borders has been both a privilege and a challenge. It has taught [me] how to read between the lines.”
-Claudia A. Nicholas
“Being raised between borders has been both a privilege and a challenge. It has taught how to read between the lines. As an artist, I find my core inspiration to be rooted in faith. I like to weave a picture that conveys meaning beyond aesthetics.
Often inclined toward symbolism, storytelling, and intuitive design, my work serves as a reflection of an intimate dialogue within myself and God. I love to observe the invisible through what is visible, to read between the lines, and to find beauty when it appears as if there is none.
I like to write poetry and attempt to articulate what has not yet been pronounced, photograph joy, and contemplate love, hoping that it translates into what I do. Whether it is in the process, the concept, or the people, there is always a story behind.”
Sift through the inspiration and cultures behind Claudia’s art, below.
Artist Aimee Hironaka Juteau
Born in Marquette Michigan, raised in Central Valley, California.
Aimee Hironaka Juteau “often draws inspiration from her multicultural background juxtaposing influences into cohesive designs.”
“While born in Marquette Michigan, Aimee Hironaka Juteau grew up in the Central Valley of California. Although she enjoyed arts and craft time during school, she never saw herself as a traditionally creative person and thus initially pursued other career paths. When several teachers pointed out her unique style of drawing, she decided to change majors and study textile design.
She experiments with various techniques and is particularly fond of reactive dyes and heat transfer. She also innovates fabric technique with natural dyes from food waste and often repurposes scraps and failed projects into new designs. She often draws inspiration from her multicultural background juxtaposing influences into cohesive designs. Aimee received her BFA in Textile Design from the Academy of Art University located in San Francisco in the Spring of 2024.”
Take a peek behind the scenes of the AAU textile lab and the personal process of Student Artist Aimee Hironaka.
Take a trip with Aimee and get inspired as she visits one of her favorite places, San Francisco’s Legion of Honor Museum.
Be sure to stick around ‘til the end 😉
15 Years of Art and Advocacy ✨
Black Crow Studios Marks 15 Years with Rebellion III: A Tribute to Art and Advocacy
A new collection celebrating student creativity, California’s landscapes, and a commitment to giving back.
Los Angeles, CA – [April 28, 2025] – Black Crow Studios, an art-driven luxury wallpaper brand redefining interiors through bold design and activism, unveils Rebellion III, the latest evolution of its celebrated Rebellion collection and a continuation of its commitment to artistry, innovation, and social impact.
Black Crow Studios Marks 15 Years with Rebellion III: A Tribute to Art and Advocacy
A new collection celebrating student creativity, California’s landscapes, and a commitment to giving back.
Los Angeles, CA – [April 28, 2025] – Black Crow Studios, an art-driven luxury wallpaper brand redefining interiors through bold design and activism, unveils Rebellion III, the latest evolution of its celebrated Rebellion collection and a continuation of its commitment to artistry, innovation, and social impact.
Rebellion is an evolving collection created in collaboration with Academy of Art University’s fashion department. An AAU alum herself, Black Crow Studios founder Tracy Hiner sought to make industry opportunities more accessible to students by inviting them to submit their art for consideration. Each year, Black Crow Studios partners with AAU fashion students — this year’s contributors are Aimée Hironaka Juteau and Claudia A. Nicholas — to refine their visions into striking, large-scale mural patterns, ultimately featuring their work in homes and commercial spaces globally. A portion of all Rebellion III profits will support Inner-City Arts through the brand’s Rebel with a Cause Charity Pool, reinforcing Black Crow Studios' mission to empower the next generation of artists.
The Rebellion III collection reflects a uniquely Californian sensibility—an homage to the iconic landscapes that define the state. With Black Crow Studios hailing from Long Beach, its student collaborators based in Northern California and Inner-City Arts headquartered in Los Angeles, the collection serves as a bridge between artistic communities across the state. Rebellion III will feature 20 California-inspired designs and debut on the brand’s newest substrate, Raw Texture—a PVC-free wallcovering that echoes the tactility of handmade paper, seamlessly integrating texture without distraction — as well as in their signature Smooth Matte, suitable for contract-grade projects.
This moment also marks 15 years of Black Crow Studios. When Tracy Hiner founded the company in 2010, digital printing was largely dismissed by the industry and seen as unfit for high-end interiors. With just $1,500 and a big idea to challenge expectations, Hiner set out to prove that digital printing could be bigger, bolder, and better. The female-founded brand quickly gained traction, forging early relationships with renowned designers like Robert Passal, Eileen Kathryn Boyd, and Cuff Studio and earning national press recognition. Unlike traditional wallpaper brands, Black Crow Studios has always operated as an art company that happens to use wallpaper as its medium. From the start, Hiner pushed the boundaries of print quality, creating work that stood apart from anything else in the market. Today, Black Crow Studios remains one of the few brands capable of achieving this level of depth and detail. Entirely self-funded, the company has grown organically, with each collection propelling the next and continues to stand for its forward-thinking collections, its vision to inspire others to push their ideas further and its commitment to sustainability and activism.
Anything for you, Mama Earth 🌍
The industry tells us we can either create something beautiful or something sustainable - not both. But we didn’t buy that.
Say hey to Raw Texture, our answer to the question: Can a wallcovering be eco-friendly, luxurious, and rebellious all at once? Turns out it can. And it’s mama-approved, if you get our gist.
The industry tells us we can either create something beautiful or something sustainable - not both. But we didn’t buy that.
Say hey to Raw Texture, our answer to the question: Can a wallcovering be eco-friendly, luxurious, and rebellious all at once? Turns out it can. And it’s mama-approved, if you get our gist.
The Problem with Traditional Wallcoverings
The ugly truth is PVC-based wallcoverings are everywhere. They’re cheap to produce, durable, and the industry has been pushing them forever.
But we both know, PVC is a plastic nightmare. It’s made with harmful chemicals, contributes to microplastic pollution, and its manufacturing process spews toxic waste into the environment. And that’s just the beginning.
The good news? We knew we could do better for your client’s homes.
Mariposa in Hemlock | Quick Ship Mural | Rebellion III
From day one, our mission at Black Crow Studios has been to disrupt the status quo - and Raw Texture is an extension of that mission.
Here’s what makes it stand out for residential applications:
✅ PVC-Free. Period.
Raw Texture is completely free of PVC, plasticizers, and harmful chemicals. We don’t do toxic.
✅ Recycled Content Done Right.
With 55% post-consumer recycled PET and wood pulp, we’re giving waste a new life. When we say Raw Texture is sustainable, we actually mean it.
✅ Certified Responsible Sourcing.
The fibers used in Raw Texture are FSC® Certified. That means they’re sourced from forests that are managed responsibly, with a commitment to environmental health and social responsibility.
✅ Low Emissions, High Performance.
Printed with GREENGUARD Gold-certified ink, Raw Texture meets the strictest standards for low chemical emissions. That’s healthier indoor air for everyone.
✅ Handmade Feel, Residential Applications.
The texture is soft, fibrous, and unapologetically luxurious—making it the perfect choice for designers who care about aesthetics as much as they care about the planet.
Why Sustainability Matters
(And Why We Give a Damn)
The interior design industry has a sustainability problem, and at Black Crow Studios - we’re here to make radical choices that actually make a difference.
From sourcing post-consumer recycled materials to ensuring our products are PVC-free and low-emission, we’re putting our values front and center. From made-to-order everything and a persistent we-can-do-better attitude, we are committed to doing better by Mama. And we know designers like you are looking for materials that help you do the same.
If you’re ready to create luxury interiors that don’t destroy the planet, Raw Texture is your answer. It’s the perfect foundation for the kind of bold, unapologetic spaces you’re known for. Because designing for beauty shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet.
And at Black Crow Studios, we’re proving you can have both. SO, are you ready to ditch the plastic?
Contact us at info@blackcrowstudios.com or visit our shop to request your
Raw Texture samples today.
Cease & Resist
a love letter to Liberation ❤️
It’s an honor to introduce our newest collection: Cease & Resist. Built on the unyielding strength of women and marginalized creators, each wallcovering in the Cease & Resist Collection is defiance in the face of the status quo. These designs unapologetically confront the systems that seek to silence and control us. They’re bold, rebellious, and exactly what this moment demands.
Through critical eyes and radical reimagination, the designs reclaim the right to live, create, and exist freely. We asked, “What does defiance look like on your walls?” The answer: vivid colors, subverted rules, digital undertones, and unapologetic brilliance.
With Cease & Resist, you’re not just designing interiors—you’re joining a movement. Through our Rebel with a Cause Initiative, a portion of proceeds goes toward our charity pool. One of these charities is The ACLU, an organization that tirelessly defends our most fundamental rights and freedoms. How timely.
This collection has been years in the making, and its release feels fated. In the face of an administration determined to strip us of our rights, we’re taking a stand. And we’re doing it with joy, color, and defiance.
This is your invitation to the revolution. Will you join?
In Solidarity and Love,
The Babes of Black Crow
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
WTF is Mix + Match?
Just what it sounds like: Mix + Match, baby! Check ‘em out…
Our Mix + Match designs are comprised of a variety of complementary panels that you can install in any order you’d like. There is no particular “match” to worry about aligning when you go to install, as there can be when installing traditional wallpaper and murals. Let’s take a look at Revolution in Orchid…
Be it ABC, CAB, or even half of B and half of A - anything is possible! You can even use different Mix + Match designs together, like Revolution Teal and Green shown below. Essentially YOU decide the design and sequence you want to see!
Which mural is the move?
Made to Measure (MTM) and Quick Ship Murals (QSM) comprise the bulk of our products - but which one is for you? Let’s get into it.
QSMs are for the projects where you love the design, see the vision, and want us to just pump that shit out and go
Repeat: Pending the Quick Ship design selected, repeat begins after 4-7 panels. Please see the specific design for more information.
Price Point: QSM are priced by the panel (43” wide) determined by the height:
10’ height: $740 (retail)
12’ height: $885 (retail)
15’ height: $1,100 (retail)
Lead Time: Once the order is placed, we ship within 1-2 weeks.
Color Customization: Color customizations are available for a $500 design fee, as a part of the QSM process. Color customization may increase lead time slightly, depending on the project details.
MTM is for the projects that you want to dig into every detail to co-create something entirely unique for your (badass) client
Repeat: Made to Measure murals are custom designed to your unique space so there’s no repeat.
Price Point: $28.75/SF (retail) - We’re happy to help with calculating quantities and adjust for any windows, doors, built-ins. Please contact us!
Lead Time: Our current lead time is about 4-6 weeks, on our side. No really, that’s it! But please note, any delay in strike off approval/VIF dims may delay the overall lead time.
Color Customization: Color customizations are complimentary as a part of the MTM process. Give us your tile sample, your fabric swatch, your Benjamin Moore color code - and we’ll get to matching!
A few FAQs to A:
You’re saying there’s some designs that are both MTM & QSM?
Yes. You have the option to select a design that comes with a pre-determined set of panels, engineered to repeat, and offered at a variety of sizes (QSM) OR - you tell us the artwork you like, and we make it completely custom to accent YOUR project and YOUR vision (MTM).
What’s the difference between Quick Ship Wallpaper (QSW) and Quick Ship Murals (QSM)?
QSW (Quick Ship Wallpaper) is designed more like a traditional wallpaper, not a mural, and it repeats from panel to panel. QSM (Quick Ship Mural) artwork spans across several panels, before repeating the design.
Any of these designs can be printed on any of your material options?
Raw Texture: Giving All The Feels
You’re used to Smooth Matte Type II, but WTF is Raw Texture?
We’re so glad you asked. Introducing our new substrate and your soon-to-be your new wallpaper bestie, courtesy of yours truly.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
What’s the diff?
True to the name, Smooth Matte is smooth to the touch, while Raw Texture has a textured feel. While Smooth Matte and Raw Texture are both non-woven, Raw Texture feels more organic and tactile, lending well to a sophisticated, but natural, aesthetic.
When to Raw Tex?
Smooth Matte is your bestie for all things commercial and anywhere humid (think, bathrooms). Raw Texture is your gal especially for all those other residential applications. She can light up a living room wall and cascade across an office ceiling and so much more!
Let’s get technical!
Like our Smooth Matte material, Raw Texture is PVC-free and contains no vinyl, phthalates, heavy metals or harmful chemicals. And as always, our ink is GreenGuard certified.
BCS has long championed the industry's necessary shift toward sustainability, celebrating the growing momentum toward environmental responsibility in interior design.
Show me!
in Raw Texture above, and Smooth Matte below
Wanna see IRL?
We’re happy to send samples your way! Compile a list of your faves (HINT: START HERE), add those babies to your cart in the material you desire. You’ll have all the magic at your door in about a week’s time. We can’t wait to hear what you think ;)
We did it again.
We hear it from designers all the time. They don’t have time for the industry’s lead times. They’re over sifting through a million emails each night. Material costs are going up while budgets are shrinking. Instead of charging for therapy, we came up with a solution.
Say hey to our Repeating Murals
All the Black Crow badassery, pre-designed to save you time.
1-2 week lead time.
SEDIMENT MIMOSA
Order online with your code.
PLEIN AIR
In support of the causes we care about.
CANDY FLOSS
Not only that - we’ve got TONS of designs with varying panel quantities and height options.
Because it turns out, size does matter. But you knew that.
Did we mention no minimums?
DROPPING NEXT WEEK!
Don’t worry. We still love custom!
The Desert Oasis Show House
Huma Sulaiman loves herself some custom pieces, and you know how we love ourselves some custom projects! Together, we teamed up to create the perfect (read: badass) mural for Design Collaborative USA’s Desert Oasis Show House this past April.
One King’s Lane Blog
It started with tile samples from Huma’s team - an emerald green tone that she wanted to match using our Cuff Studio Terrazzo design in the office powder room. A few layouts, color modifications, and scale adjustments later - the final strike off was approved and we were in production creating the mural for install. We’re quick like that, yunno?
Terrazzo Emerald Design
Cuff Studio Collection
Color Matching
Tile samples from Huma’s team
Final Layout selection for the Desert Oasis Show House Office Powder
The 4,350-square-foot Indian Wells show house overflowed with Mid-Century Modern design and beautiful views of the valley. Designers, vendors and guests flowed throughout the house while live music played and hors d'oeuvres were served. We quite enjoyed the coconut mojitos. We also Lyft-ed home, not to worry.
Hugo Landa Photography & some BCS models
Upon entering the office, you were struck by Huma’s sleek and unique tactile design. Huma managed to strike a balance between classic Mid-Century design with modern finishes and touches. Details are not lost on her, and the office powder was no exception.
Chad Mellon Photography
Warm wood tones and metallic finishes perfectly complemented the mural’s dramatic presence, and the shower tiles’ cool emerald tone. Black countertops and plans added a bit of variety, and the statement mirror truly rounded out the space. The mural was a statement.
We loved talking to the guests about the mural process, and how yes, indeed, that is wallpaper. Custom products can seem daunting to people unfamiliar with the process - but we pride ourselves on simplifying the process for our clients and bringing unparalleled quality to their projects. And to their clients.
The Grand Opening party presented by Pirch was a smash, ending on a note of philanthropy as the show house raised thousands of dollars benefiting three charities in the area: FIND Food Bank, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Special Olympics SoCal. You know that spoke to us, as our Cuff Studio wallcoverings give back to Downtown Women’s Center and Planned Parenthood in LA. The event touched many lives directly, and indirectly, and we’re proud our work was part of it. It truly was as easy as Dream It, Design It, Install It (and drool over it.)
Creating a Rebellion w/ Academy of Art University, SF
The intention behind Rebellion is not only to create opportunity for the budding artists, but to reinforce the idea that the power of art is limitless. And fundamentally, that’s what we’ve created through this collection.
Krithika Sengo in the textile lab, Academy of Art University San Francisco.
Being seasoned in this industry can take you places. But, like most everything we do at Black Crow - we take a different perspective on “green” talent. We trust new designers, we give them a platform to create, and we invest in their art. This is the making of the Rebellion Collection: our annual collaboration with the fashion students of Academy of Art University, San Francisco.
The Rebellion Collection isn’t typical - it’s experimental, it starts off messy, and is constantly evolving. Perhaps that’s what makes it as fulfilling as it is. Academy of Art University alum and our founder Tracy’s goal is to “show these students that their ideas were just the beginning - you can keep pushing and really get experimental.”
We take the students’ physical and digital artwork, reverse engineer their manipulations, and push their art further. And after that? We turn their work into wallcoverings and pay them royalties. Their work is featured across the globe, spanning commercial and residential walls alike, in spaces where you’d expect to see seasoned, established artists’ work.
Students doing their thing in the Textile Lab.
Taking it a step further, we give back to Inner-City Arts through this collection, under our Rebel With a Cause Initiative. A portion of profits is donated to the organization’s mission to engage young people in the creative process in order to shape a society of creative, confident, and collaborative individuals. Inner-City Arts’ latest workshops have focused on self-expression, identity, and social justice - all causes we stand behind and are inspired by.
Reaching Inner-City Arts students as young as elementary age - the Rebellion Collection comes full circle - enabling the next generation to prop up the generation behind them.
The intention behind Rebellion is not only to create opportunity for the budding artists, but to reinforce the idea that the power of art is limitless. And fundamentally, that’s what we’ve created through this collection. We couldn’t be prouder. Read more about what inspires the students below. And stay tuned for the next roundup of genius, coming early May 2022!
MEET THE STUDENTS
“The evolution of art from not just being decorative to being functional and enhancing is powerful. ”
Mariane Taveres uses words like “immerse”, “captivate”, and “relate” to describe her work. Drawing and silk screening are the mediums she finds herself leaning into - but she welcomes new mediums and is excited to see her work take life as wallcoverings. Mariane seeks uncharted challenges - sharing with us that it’s both scary and rewarding to venture yourself into new environments. Something we loved to hear was how community support holds a place in Mariane’s experience as an artist. She’s created since she was a kid, and her family has supported her all along the way. We love a family support system. Mariane is seen here working on the Night Blossom custom mural design in Dolores Park, SF.
Jihyun Kim finds inspiration in traditional Korean wall paintings, but embraces experimentation - especially a good happy accident. Paint is Jihyun’s favorite medium, but she doesn’t limit herself to a brush. Instead she makes tools out of otherwise ordinary things - like tissues, fingers and even leaves to bring about the varied textures in her work. Hello, experimentation! Jihyun’s looking forward to developing her style further as a designer and seeing what new, fresh forms of art the next generation of artists will bring to the table. View Jihyun’s textile portfolio here.
Allen Lee considers his art his escape. Working in a non-creative industry by day, Allen shared with us that he turns to his craft as a means of finding inner peace. We feel that. Finding himself exploring art through a digital lens mainly - he leans into photography and digital software being his mediums of choice. Allen’s work is abstract, conceptualizing textiles out of everyday things like the ridges of a plastic water bottle or the vertical lines of a set of blinds. Diversity and depth in art, as well as the artist’s ongoing discovery, are what Allen most looks forward to in the future of art.
Krithika Sengo’s doodling as a kid matured into a preference for sketching, and since has developed into a number of mediums. Something Krithika said that spoke to us was, “The evolution of art from not just being decorative to being functional and enhancing is powerful.” Yes. Just, yes. She finds cinema to be inspirational, and intentionally highlights simplicity and imperfection in her work. One of Krithika’s latest projects was with SFMTA and SF Beautiful to redecorate the Muni buses of San Francisco with art. Go, click, fast to see her work for yourself here.
LET’S LINK UP
Check out the current Rebellion Collection
Learn more about Inner-City Arts & young LA creatives
Read about our Rebel With a Cause Initiative
Visit Academy of Art University San Francisco’s Fashion Department
A Statement Mural for Guilford Elementary Teachers' Lounge
Teachers have been through hell this past year and a half. While we all worked through these Unprecedented Times™,
teachers were the anchor so many kids needed and looked to for guidance and normalcy.
Guilford Elementary
Teachers’ Lounge before transformation
When Bonnie Ammon Interiors reached out to us asking if we would design a custom mural for Guilford Elementary School’s Teachers’ Lounge - we jumped at the opportunity to liven up a space for the staff through our art. The educators of Guilford Elementary primarily instruct low-income students, with fewer resources and privileges to navigate their adolescent years - let alone a pandemic. They absolutely deserved a space they loved.
AFTER
Featuring custom Mulberry Wine mural
Bonnie envisioned a purple-toned watercolor mural, blue and white furniture, and a touch of artwork that inspired. Our team took her vision and ran with it, using four different designs to create several layouts for her to choose from. Together, we narrowed it down to a custom Mulberry Wine mural - the perfect statement piece for the lounge.
Working with us at Black Crow Studios, Carpet Impressions & Fine Rugs, and Pillow Punk - together we created a space the teachers could recharge and find comfort in. Bonnie wrapped up the install just in time for the teachers’ return to work for the new school year. And our hearts are full at the teachers’ reactions to their new Guilford Elementary Teachers' Lounge.
Final Mulberry Wine Layout
“The teachers absolutely loved the room. The mural brings it to life.”
Cursing the Man w/ Dream Client Lauren van den Berg
Our client Lauren van den Berg hates Zoom meetings, champions the causes we care about, and takes Kahlua in her coffee.
She reached out to us back in April and it was love at first witty email.
Turbulent Sea custom mural for mega babe Lauren van den Berg
We love a woman who knows what she wants. And that was Turbulent Sea of our Watercolor Collection in her first home. Working between Toronto’s intermittent lockdowns, Lauren was able to snag us the measurements we needed and our team got to work creating the perfect custom mural to span the length of her joint living-dining room space.
A few layouts and comical emails later, the final design was selected, she took possession of the house, and Finer Edge Painting was on site ready for action. We were stoked to hear Finer Edge raved about the piece and how our instructions made for an easy and seamless mural install. The results were epic. Even little Connor and his teddy bear (monkey?) were impressed.
Final Turbulent Sea Layout
Lauren, you had us at “CURSE THE MAN.”
Thanks for being one of our favs and allowing us to bring this next-level dining room drama to your first home!
BCS X Friedrich Kunath X DTLA
…we preserved each paint stroke, ink layer and carving to the detail in the final digital print - recreating Friedrich’s artwork on an monumental scale.
We just wrapped up a helluva collab with artist and creator Friedrich Kunath for a rad hotel project in DTLA with citizenM. Known for his portrayals of whimsical landscapes - Friedrich’s work is doused in paint strokes, ink layers upon ink layers, and intentional carvings. As artists ourselves, all we gotta say is - when commissioned to transform an artist’s work into a mural that is larger-than-life, you better do that shit justice ✔️
This project took multiple steps: receiving the oversized canvas from the artist, using our proprietary process that allows us to reproduce it digitally at an incredible scale and resolution, color correcting the entirety of the piece, and engineering it to the hotels’ elevations for the perfect custom fit. This is something we excel at - we know exactly our plan and we deliver at an unparalleled quality that fully represents and respects the artists’ process. Needless to say, they were in good hands.
Mr. Tez in-studio
As seen here, we preserved each paint stroke, ink layer and carving to the detail in the final digital print - recreating Friedrich’s artwork at a monumental scale. From receiving the artwork to shipping it back out to the artist, every part of our process was done with precision. We can’t wait to disclose the hotel so you all can go visit the gorgeous scenery yourself. It’s a guaranteed show stopper - Tez agrees.🎨🐶
Check out citizenM’s video montage of Friedrich's team painting on top of the mural to give it even more life. The pop-culture nodding, parallel universe leaning mural greets citizenM guests walking through the DTLA doors every day. We love it. And that banana knows what's up 🍌🌿
Our bitchin’ powder room mural featured in Interiors Mag
When a client calls with a badass pink powder room concept - you deliver.
Sharing her rendering and a simple pink and gray marble sample, we designed a big, bold, not-sorry custom mural for Joanna Parol Interior Design that perfectly captures the marble’s hues and complements the energy of the space. Check it out on page 89 of Interiors Magazine’s June/July edition.
Spanning three walls and the 5th wall, the design you see isn’t something you’ll find on our website, and is completely unique to Joanna’s project. When you come to our team of designers - we’re ready for your abstract concepts, unique visions and experimental projects. We have archives of design options at our fingertips for opportunities just like this.
Fast forward to today and Interiors Mag has featured the pink powder room magic in their current June+July issue. The powder room is complete with all-immersive pink tones, gray accents, and is entirely a vibe. A simple concept turned into a bitchin’ project thanks to a little collaboration and a lot of women power. That’s the shit we love.
“Always look on the pink side of life.” - Joanna Parol
See the Black Crow Studios X Joanna Parol Interior Design collab in Interiors Magazine June+July Issue, page 89.
Vionnet - Our Latest Collection
Drafting supplies from my year in Paris
A few years ago I really wanted to get back in touch with my fashion roots, I thought about starting to make clothes for myself to scratch that itch, but eventually I realized I just wanted to drape and play with fabric again - to explore and get inspired. I set the idea aside until mid 2019 when I started ordering yards and yards of fabric and decided to use empty stretcher bars instead of a dress form to start to create with. What would that do without a waist to or chest to give shape to the fabric? I really began working out the process while doing my artist residency at the @chateauorquevaux in France. I spent a month, not making what appeared to be progress, but it was - I was working out how to approach this idea, what was working and what wasn’t. Most of it wasn’t, but there is so much to learn in the failures of experimentation. Eventually I started making actual progress, started to have the ideas come to life - I looked at is sculpting with fabric. It is. I have these pieces hanging all over my house. Three dimensional pieces that are made, photographed and then translated to the flat print of wallpaper. That is also what is interesting about this collection - seeing the transformation from 3D to 2D. To see if we can keep the depth of the pieces. That transformation abstracts the original idea - takes it out of the literal and into the conceptual. Conceptual and experimental is where I like to live - it is what drives my creativity and I am doing my best work when I can find that place and stay there for a while. These designs are a big departure from our usual work and I hope you all enjoy them. As an artist, I am always looking to evolve and explore what is calling to me at the moment and letting that take me on a journey to a surprise destination.
One of the early experimental draping creations
“Forever a student of design, our founder tapped into her roots of fashion to create the Vionnet Collection. Inspired by Tracy’s time living in Paris and studying at Haute Couture School - Vionnet manipulates an assortment of textures into dramatic, epic scenery. By using draping techniques learned in her time as a student in Paris, the Vionnet Collection evokes a sense of indulgence without pretense by sculpting fabric as would be done in Parisienne Atelier. The collection brings experimental, dramatic artwork into the home or commercial space with an effortless, nearly tactile, monochromatic aesthetic.”
When I was 18 and had graduated high school in Garland, TX (suburbs of Dallas) I packed up and headed out to San Francisco for college. I earned a BFA at the Academy of Art University with a double major (I don’t think that is technically a thing, but I took all the courses for 2 majors) in Fashion Design and Textile Design.
I was always way better at the textile design part of school - pattern making was like a foreign language I always struggled to understand. I could get through it, but it always took me longer than everyone else.
Because I took all the extra classes it took 5 years to complete my degree and just before my last year I was given a scholarship to spend a year abroad in Paris studying at l’ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. It was taught fully in French and is the school associated with the federation that oversees the Haute Couture fashion industry. Basically the school was created with the intention of feeding the design students into the Haute Couture houses in Paris, so we would leave with the skills to work at that level.
I showed up speaking a little bit of French - conversational - quickly I realized I was in way over my head as far as understanding the assignments and keeping up when I didn’t have the same education as the students there. For example, I had a knitwear class. I had done knitwear before and was familiar with “hand knitting” with a carriage. This was hand knitting with 2 needles and the assignment given was design a piece of knitwear and knit it. Ummmm…..
I have a million stories from that year in Paris and I will share them over time, but where this ties back to the new collection is the draping class I took - Moulage.
It was so hard to learn when my French was not strong. I had definitely never learned the terms used in a fashion design curriculum , but the was so fun and challenging, I loved that class even when I could not keep up at all!! I’ve learned over the years that I deeply enjoy being dropped into challenging situations and being forced outside of my comofort zone. Over time I have started to feel at ease living outside of my comfort zone. Draping was kind of free, you could manipulate the fabric and let it lead you to an idea. Flat pattern making was taking your idea and engineering the pattern to creat the garment in your head from a blank piece of paper. They were opposite in the approach to constructing a garment. Draping offered a way to explore and create new things you would not have imagined on your own, this has always been part of my artistic DNA experimenting and letting that lead you to something new.
One of my final designs
Chateau d’Orquevaux
I wrote this while on the plane to Paris. If you catch my IG stories you may have seen that I am staying in a small village’ in rural France for an artist residency. I will be spending an entire month living in a Chateau in the French countryside with a group of artists doing the thing I never seem to have the time to do - experiment with new mediums of art. As Black Crow Studio grows each year, I strive to develop new ideas, keep my clients happy, while making sure the business is running smoothly. What often gets pushed aside is time to experiment artistically and develop my ideas.
So that is my plan - to experiment - to try to develop an idea I’ve been wanting to work on for the last year. It is a totally different idea than I have ever done before and in all honesty I have no idea if it will even work out, but I think this is the place and opportunity to go for it.
The residency program at Chateaux d’Orquevaux offers the opportunity for me to disconnect from the stress of daily life and pursue my creative calling. I look forward to having the space to be creative and release myself from the hectic pace of my daily life. I relish the isolation and disconnection and the idea of living in the moment and taking in every drop of the experience, to store it deep in my soul and bring it back with me. And I yearn to be part of the diverse community of artists that the residency offers.
I am working on ideas for a new collection that harkens back to my fashion design background. When I was in college, studying fashion design and textile design, I won a scholarship to study for a year at L’ecole de le Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. It was an incredible and very difficult experience. The fact that this residency is coming up at a time when I am looking back at how to intertwine that experience in my current work was very fitting. I will be back in a country that set my soul on fire, using what I learned to breathe life into the creative process. I have never been more excited and more terrified about a collection. Will I ever be able to create something that matches (let alone exceeds) the vision of it I see in my mind??
One thing I have learned over the years is that I can trust my creativity and know that it will deliver for me if I give it the space it needs to grow and develop. I trust the process and all I have to do is get out of my own way - that can be the hard part.
I hope to return feeling rested, recharged and energized, ready to start a new, strong series of work form which my new collection will grow.
More photos below - click on the images to scroll through!
Dystopian Opulence has launched!
It all begins with an idea.
If you haven’t seen it yet - we launched our latest collection, Dystopian Opulence, a few weeks ago and the reaction has been huge!!
The idea for the collection started from minerals. I had done a mineral based collection, in partnership with someone, years ago. This was me revisiting what I had originally done and looking at it from a new viewpoint and using new materials and techniques. It was interesting to revisit a subject, but see it differently based on the growth I had done as an artist and a person.
The collection, while very vast in scope and style, starts pretty straight forward and then transitions into a darker interpretation. As an artist, I am always influenced by what is happening in the world. This collection is a manifestation of all the despair, frustration, and, sadness of where the world is going along with the beauty and majesty of the Earth and what She can create.
We have created a collection that pulls from nature and twists it with colors and textures of the digital interface we use to view “nature” (our phones). Using real minerals, collage, mixed media, and computer glitches, we explore a future that looks at our relationship with technology as we move towards a more digital life and leave behind our connection to nature.
The collection begins with beautiful minerals - created over millions of years—in interesting combinations and then progresses into a technology-driven view of nature.
I’ve never approached my collections as “what would make good wallpaper” I have always come at it from the stance of what feeling or mood am I trying to express. It all starts with the art - I don’t worry about what the end product will be, I just create and explore. I love the part of the process where we take the best ideas and then translate them to my favorite medium - mural style installations - it always blows me away how the scale can make such a huge impact on the design and the way you experience it.
With this collection I had my entire team working on designs along with me. I set the overall theme and mood for the collection and let them explore what that meant to them. Because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses I was able to pull the strongest ideas from each person and then we shaped those into a cohesive collection.
As part of our Rebel with a Cause initiative we will be donating a portion of sales to environmental causes, we have to start protecting the Earth and dealing with the damage we are doing. I felt like this collection, being based on minerals, was best suited for supporting this issue.
At this time we will be donating to Sea Legacy and Natural Resources Defense Council.
You can read an interview I did with California Home + Design about this collection and the Rebel with a Cause initiative. Read it here!
