The Haas Brothers

The Haas Brothers line up an exhibition, a bar and an adult cartoon for 2021

The artists and Rihanna collaborators have an action packed year coming up!

Does it feel like you haven’t exactly had the most productive time lately? Then, maybe you should look towards the phenomenal recent work rate of The Haas Brothers, Simon and Nikolai. The artists have designed and produced stands and end papers for our Rihanna book, featured in our Open Studio book (alongside the likes of Marina Abramović, Rashid Johnson and George Condo), and despite the events of 2020, have rather a lot coming up in 2021.

Chief among these is a new cartoon, which, like quite a lot of the brother’s work, is playful, but clearly made for adults. “It’s called Filthy Animals – and it is pretty filthy!” Simon told The Design Edit site recently. Based on Nikolai’s illustrations, the show will feature Rashida Jones in the role of Sunny Day, a suburban 12-year-old.

The Haas Brothers, “Snailor Moon” (left) and “Snail Earnhardt Jr.” (right), 2020, walnut, fur, and glass, 117 x 24 x 24 in. and 133 x 22 x 27 in. Courtesy of the artists. Photo by Tim Hans. Image courtesy of SCAD Museum of Art
The Haas Brothers, “Snailor Moon” (left) and “Snail Earnhardt Jr.” (right), 2020, walnut, fur, and glass, 117 x 24 x 24 in. and 133 x 22 x 27 in. Courtesy of the artists. Photo by Tim Hans. Image courtesy of SCAD Museum of Art

The brother’s unusual take on botany is also the focus of the first of many solo exhibitions. Entitled Beast in Show, it opens on 12 January at The SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia, and features the Haas Brothers’ fantastical creatures.

“Composed of natural fur from a variety of animals paired with cast bronze or carved wood, the beasts typically only possess legs and horns, leaving viewers to infer personality from gesture and form rather than facial features.” explains the museum. “With titles like Snail Earnhardt Jr. and Shaggy Gyllenhaal, the beasts are charming, odd, whimsical, and humorous, reflective of the artists’ spirited approach to art making.”

 

The Haas Brothers Vote Georgia hoodie
The Haas Brothers Vote Georgia hoodie

The show opens in Georgia shortly before the state’s run off elections and with this in mind the brothers have also produced a Vote Georgia capsule clothing collection. Proceeds from the sales of these garments benefit Fair Fight, a national nonprofit organisation that fights to ensure voters’ rights and participation in Georgia and beyond.

 

Jessica McCormack & Haas Brothers 2ct Diamond Ball n Chain Pendant. Image courtesy of Jessica McCormack
Jessica McCormack & Haas Brothers 2ct Diamond Ball n Chain Pendant. Image courtesy of Jessica McCormack

 
Can’t get down to Georgia? Then head over to Jessica McCormack’s site where the brothers have collaborated on jewelry with the New Zealand-born London-based jewelry designer.

 

Open Studio
Open Studio

And, if you’re looking forward to a time when we can all meet up in real life, then maybe hold out for Color Club, an L.A. bar and coffee shop opening in late 2021, early 2022 “I’m excited to go party at that bar,” Nikolai told Women’s Wear Daily. “Having a big dance party sounds like a lot of fun right now.”

It does! Though the brothers sure know how to fill their time until then. For more on the Haas Brothers order a copy of Open Studio, here; and to see their work on our Rihanna book, go here.

Rihanna: Luxury Supreme featuring the Haas Brothers' Drippy + The Brain tabletop stand
Rihanna: Luxury Supreme featuring the Haas Brothers' Drippy + The Brain tabletop stand