Artists are not only those who put pen to paper. Whether we know it or not, there’s an artist within us all. It just takes the right surroundings to bring it out. Filling a life with color, ideas, and originality is a quickfire way to inspire the creative juices, and when better to do that than the holiday season?
Below are 10 gift ideas for the artist in your life, each of which is defined by bold color, big prints, beautiful craftsmanship, and rooted in innovation and creativity. From BOSE’s QuietComfort Headphones, now available in a run of vibrant new hues that join the dots between color, music, and mood, to art books, accessories, and more, keep reading for gifts for color aficionados and cultural pioneers.
One of BOSE’s most popular products, the QuietComfort Headphones have been a definitive force for many years. Now, the best-in-class audio quality and noise cancellation come in a strikingly colorful package. Embodied by names like Royel Otis and ZULAN, BOSE’s newest campaign highlights a connection between creativity and color by showcasing artists with different hues. The campaign embodies QC headphones’ connection to deep-rooted creativity. The headphones encourage the wearer to harness their full creativity because surrounding ourselves with innovative sound and beautiful design is a surefire way to boost mood and inspiration.
TATE Lubaina Himid — Signed, Limited Edition
Marking Lubaina Himid’s exhibition at London’s TATE Modern museum in 2022, this hardback coffee table book features the full exhibition catalogue that makes for hours of quiet page turning. Limited to a run of just 300, this copy has been signed by Himid herself.
Grace Wales Bonner’s ability to create pieces that tread the line between art and clothing is peerless. Created in collaboration with artist Theaster Gates, the Selah shirt is decorated with a repeated archive image against vivid overdyed blue.
Inspiration can strike anywhere, so a portable loudspeaker is a great gift for the creative. Co-founded by one of the founders of Swedish fashion powerhouse Acne Studios, Teenage Engineering is by and for the multi-hyphenate. Aesthetically beautiful and with premium sound quality and a 40-hour battery, OB-4 is hard to beat.
SHEYN 2LG Studio Edition Little Peach Vase
SHEYN taps 2LG Studio for this 3D-printed beauty. The fluted construction flows hypnotically, aided by a striking blue and green color palette. Any flowers kept in this vase will not be the main focus.
Not all colored pencils are made equal. Pulling away at the front of the pack is Holbein, one of Japan’s—and the world’s—most respected pencil makers. Made using only the best high-pigment ingredients, this set of 12 pencils promises the unrivaled blending and layering loved by artists the world over.
Story mfg.’s unstoppable creativity when it comes to fabric innovation and dyeing techniques is something to behold. The head-turning finish of the Greetings Shirt is caused by the natural dyes fading in sunlight over time. Each shirt is therefore unique and will continue to age over time.
Sun Buddies may hail from Sweden, the home of minimal design, but there’s nothing minimal about the label’s extensive collection of vintage-inspired frames. Take Frank, for example, which offers a low-profile frame in an unmissable transparent Bottle Green finish.
