Sneaker culture has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon in recent years, with new and avid collectors joining the hunt for the perfect pair every day. Whether looking for a specific pair of skate shoes or a rare set of basketball sneakers—or even just browsing to see what’s out there—StockX is a sure bet for finding and buying the perfect pair of new kicks.
Magnifying the popularity of the sneaker world are frequent, high-profile collaborations between fan-favorite brands and celebrities, athletes, or, most excitingly for us, artists. Artists ranging from Keith Haring to KAWS have brought their signature aesthetic to the sneaker world, resulting in ultra-unique and highly sought after shoes.
Here, we’ve rounded up just a few of the coolest artist collab sneakers found on StockX, where you can easily find world-famous artists’ work on some of the most iconic sneaker silhouettes—from Converse high tops to Nike Air Force 1 shoes.
Vans Classic Slip-On VLT LX
Damien Hirst Skull Splatter
Vans Classic Slip-On VLT LX Damien Hirst Skull Splatter. Courtesy of StockX.
Vans have been a cornerstone of skate and surf culture since the 1970s, with the slip-on version premiering in 1977. Paired here with a color skull motif by Damien Hirst—one of the most famous living artists today—the classic style is given an eye-catching twist. Hirst first rose to prominence in the 1990s as one of the Young British Artists (YBAs), and his innovative, and sometimes shocking, art has continued to captivate the art world ever since.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 70 Hi
Keith Haring Egret
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 70 Hi Keith Haring Egret. Courtesy of StockX.
One of the most historic pairs on this list, Converse All Stars were first introduced in 1917. They are a fitting medium for the work of legendary pop and street artist Keith Haring, who was snapped wearing a pair more than once while working around New York City in the 1980s. Haring’s signature visual lexicon is widely recognizable, developed while working in the city’s graffiti subculture.
Nike Blazer Low
sacai KAWS Purple Dusk
Nike Blazer Low sacai KAWS Purple Dusk. Courtesy of StockX.
American artist and designer Brian Donnelly, best known by the moniker KAWS, is arguably most well-known for his cast figure collectibles portraying any one of his practice’s repeated characters. This pair of Nike Blazer Low sneakers features KAWS famous “XX” motifs, often used in place of eyes on his collectible figures.
Nike Air Max 90 Golf NRG
Steven Harrington Space
Nike Air Max 90 Golf NRG Steven Harrington Space. Courtesy of StockX.
Recognized as a pioneer of the “contemporary Californian psychedelic-pop aesthetic,” Steven Harrington’s work is known for its outrageously fun motifs that still invite thought and reflection from the viewer. Highly stylized figures and design-based compositions make his work enigmatic and intriguing—and often humorous.
Nike Air Force 1 Flyleather
Ruohan Wang
Nike Air Force 1 Flyleather Ruohan Wang. Courtesy of StockX.
Air Force 1 sneakers have been a perennial favorite of sneakerheads since the early 1980s. In 2020, Nike undertook a collab with Beijing-born, Berlin-based artist and illustrator Ruohan Wang to produce this colorful and graphic iteration of the iconic shoe. Featuring Chinese text and brightly colored, playful shapes and figures, it’s the perfect melding of shoe design and contemporary art.
Nike Air Zoom Spiridon 16
Stash
Nike Air Zoom Spiridon 16 Stash. Courtesy of StockX.
Josh Franklin is a Brooklyn-based graffiti artist and graphic artist better known by his moniker Stash. Stash has been working with high-profile brands ranging from Nike to Uniqlo since the 1990s, making him a seasoned collaborator with a track record of super cool and creative partnerships. Inspired by old school graffiti and street art, his designs have a classic appeal with an air of the contemporary.
Vans Vault OG Authentic
Javier Calleja
Vans Vault OG Authentic Javier Calleja. Courtesy of StockX.
Spanish artist Javier Calleja has a distinct style recognized for its big and wide-eyed figures—the perfect match for the equally recognizable pair of lace-up Vans. With his unique character figures peering out from the shoes, this pair is both cute and cool. Fitting, too, as Calleja is known for his multidisciplinary practice, which ranges from painting and sculpture to prints and collectibles.
