Dozie Kanu Is the Furniture Designer Who Melds Hip-Hop, Street Culture and Modern Design
Discusses meeting Travis Scott and talking with Matthew Williams.
For those still unfamiliar, Dozie Kanu is a young, on-the-rise furniture designer known primarily for marrying contemporary design sensibilities with a keen eye for fashion and all things street culture. At just 24-years old, the Houston-based creative has already added Travis Scott and Matthew Williams to his ever-increasing clientele list. Evocative but functional, Kanu’s creations involve reimagining classic pieces through the application of contemporary accentuates. In speaking with SSENSE, the artist divulges on his design philosophies, inspirations and upbringing.
On his background as an artist
After high school I moved to New York to study film at the School of Visual Arts. My focus was in production design, which was kind of uncommon.
On what he considers his first piece
The first pieces were a set of chairs I had fabricated in Brooklyn.
On his inspirations
I’ve always been a huge hip-hop fanatic. I recently realized that good conversation is a great place to find inspiration.
On who he associates with
Well, I draw inspiration from talking to Alyx’s designer, my friend, Matthew Williams. He’s got a lot of experience as a creative and with working with some of the biggest names in music.
On meeting Travis Scott
I knew about him but we didn’t become homies until I had a class with him my freshman year of high school.
