The Ancient World and the Modern Mind: Where the Rudeboy Style Began

Every line and figure in the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" collection has a story that stretches back thousands of years. While the final designs are bold and modern, their soul is rooted in the art of the ancient world. They are an homage to the past, brought to life for the present.

The initial inspiration began with the dynamic motion and ceremonial posture of Ancient Mayan art. From there, I drew on the iconic profiles and clean lines of Ancient Egyptian art, the fluid forms of Ancient Indian art, and the profound symbolism found in Ancient Ethiopian art. Each of these ancient cultures contributed a foundational element to the style.

Yet, to translate these powerful, traditional forms into a modern language, I turned to the masters of a more recent era. The simplified forms and abstract compositions of Picasso and the vibrant, expressive colors and fluid shapes of Matisse provided the essential vocabulary. Their work showed me how to reduce a figure to its purest form, capturing its essence in a single gesture or line.

The dancing figures you see in the "Happy Happy Joy Joy" collection are a direct result of this fusion, a conversation between the ancient world and the modern mind. They represent an unbroken chain of human expression, from the temple walls of a forgotten age to a contemporary art piece you can wear today. This is the true Rudeboy archive.

Explore the collection that brings this history to life.

Rudeboy by Hubert Neal jr