Allison Hueman is a Filipino-American[1] graffiti artist, painter, and illustrator,[2][3] based in Oakland, California.[4] Hueman's best-known works include the Golden State Warriors 2022-23 City Edition Uniforms & basketball court,[5] Bloom, a mural in the Los Angeles Arts District commemorating community advocate Joel Bloom,[6] and the cover artwork for Pink’s 2019 record, Hurts 2B Human.[7][8] As street art is a medium dominated by men, Hueman is noted as a female artist who has achieved significant renown.[9][10]

Allison Hueman
Born
Allison Torneros

1985
Known forGraffiti
Street art

Career

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Hueman partnered with NYX Cosmetics in 2015 to create custom artwork for their products and stores[11][12]

Allison Hueman graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 2008 with a degree in design and media arts.[13] After graduating, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and web designer.[14]

Early works by Allison Hueman include a Nike-commissioned portrait of Kobe Bryant,[15][16][17] a mural for P Diddy's Revolt TV office[18][19] and Ritual, a 9-day, free-styled, floor-to-ceiling mural installation in a 5,000 sq foot warehouse space.[20][21] In 2013, Allison Hueman was one of the first artists commissioned to paint a mural after Los Angeles lifted its street art ban.[22] In May 2014, Allison Hueman was named one of LA Weekly's People of the Year and was featured on a limited-edition cover of the issue.[23][24]

In 2013, Allison Hueman was featured in season 8, episode 27 of Pawn Stars “Say It, Don't Spray It.” During the episode she is seen painting a mural of the main cast on the garage door of the Gold and Silver Pawn shop. The mural is still there today and is similar in design to Mount Rushmore.[25]

In 2015, she and artist Daniela Rocha curated Wander and Wayfare,[26][27] which featured murals painted around San Francisco by eight female street artists, as well as a gallery art show.[28] The event "will be an annual exhibition and mural festival that plans to brighten the future of the San Francisco art scene."[27] That July, she also participated in the second annual series of Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans, organized by PangeaSeed in Cozumel, Mexico.[29]

In 2019, Allison Hueman was commissioned by filmmaker Ava Duvernay to paint the facade of her production company Array.[30] Other projects include a painting at Hickory Alley in San Francisco, which is a large mural that spanned 5 buildings, titled Spray Ballet funded by the SF Community Challenge Grant, the design of a Nike shoe for the Olympics,[31] a collaboration with Forever 21,[32] and a refurbished basketball court for the Golden State Warriors at Salesian Boys & Girls Club, unveiled by Stephen Curry.[33] In 2020, Hueman teamed up with Under Armour and Stephen Curry for the release of the Curry 8 Flow. This is the first signature shoe debuting under the two-time NBA MVP’s namesake brand.[34][35] This same design was used in the refurbishment of the Manzanita court in Oakland, as a part of Curry’s efforts to give back to the community.

In September 2020, she participated in POW! WOW! festival.[36]

Premiering in the SF Bay Area in January 2022, Homebody[37] was an immersive art experience that explored shifting identities while living under government-mandated isolation, inviting viewers to engage with Allison Hueman’s work at the intersection of art and technology.

The original exhibit spanned over 20,000 square feet, allowing guests to journey through five cohesive installations. Translucent floor-to-ceiling installations expanded upon Allison Hueman’s Veiled Intent series of work, which play with themes of transparency, light, color and space. The 360 immersive experience was brought to animated life by video projection mapping and augmented reality activated on visitors’ smart devices.

In 2022, Allison Hueman designed the Golden State Warriors 2022-23 Nike NBA City Edition uniform and basketball court.[5] The NBA is calling the “photo-real style the first of its kind on an NBA jersey,” according to Nadia Roohparvar, the league’s manager of on-court and brand partnerships.[5] The centerpiece of the uniform is a yellow rose, representing the fearless, bold women who have changed the trajectory of history in their various industries. The emblem on the chest emanates rays of sunshine, symbolizing power and strength, and the gradient on the side of the uniform represents the diversity of the Bay Area. Lastly, the uniform type face sources inspiration from the historic Art Deco landmarks in the Bay Area. The Golden State Warriors 2022-23 City Edition jersey was voted #1 best jersey in the NBA by the LA Times.[38]

In 2023 it was announced that Hueman had painted the hull are for Norwegian Cruise Line's ship, Norwegian Aqua, debuting in 2025. Hueman is the first female artist to be featured on the hull of an NCL ship. [39]

Style and influences

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Allison Hueman's signature style includes bright colors and elements of abstract portraiture. Her work has been described as a product of "free association." "Drawing first abstractly and without a definite idea, she will return to the work several times and refine images she sees in the primary, elemental composition."[40]

The name Allison "Hueman" comes from the feelings she had after starting to paint murals for the first time. In a profile in Juxtapoz, she states,"I began painting murals after a dark period in my life when I felt like there was nothing left to lose, and when I painted big for the first time, it was like a light switch turned on. Once I got out of my studio and onto the street, I was using my entire body to paint, I was talking to people, I was collaborating, I was in the sun. I felt alive again. I literally felt human. That's where the name Hueman comes from."[41]

References

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  1. ^ "Landfall by Hueman". 1xRUN. Archived from the original on 2014-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  2. ^ "Allison Torneros - Hueman Revolution". YAY!LA. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  3. ^ Kelly, Tara (June 4, 2012). "Allison Torneros, Artist, Creates 'Time Machine' Series (Photos)". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  4. ^ "L.A. Taco interview with Allison "Hueman" Torneros". L.A. Taco. 2015-06-24. Archived from the original on 2020-04-07. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  5. ^ a b c Chazaro, Alan (February 26, 2023). "Oakland artist makes bold statement with Warriors jersey". Datebook. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  6. ^ Vankin, Deborah (2017-06-23). "The back story to that bouquet blooming over L.A.'s Arts District". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  7. ^ Hurts 2B Human (Media notes). Pink. RCA Records. 2019.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Green, Patrick (2019-07-13). "What Does It Mean To Be Human? Well, Ask Hueman". Character Media. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  9. ^ "Women street artists are focus of upcoming LALA Gallery exhibit". Los Angeles Times. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. ^ Dambrot, Shana Nys (2014-05-14). "Allison "Hueman" Torneros: The Mad Muralist". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2020-04-07. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  11. ^ Directo-Meston, Danielle (2015-09-28). "More On Nyx Cosmetics's First Beauty Boutique at Westfield Santa Anita". Racked LA. Archived from the original on 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  12. ^ "Collaborations". Hueman. Archived from the original on 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  13. ^ "Cirriculum Vitae". Hueman Nature. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  14. ^ "r/IAmA - Comment by u/Huemantheartist on "Hey Reddit! I'm Hueman - Female Street Muralist/Fine Artist from Los Angeles, AMA!"". reddit. 13 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  15. ^ "Nike x Kobe Bryant". Complex Magazine.
  16. ^ "Openings: "Kobe Prelude Experience" @ Nike Vault". Arrested Motion. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  17. ^ "Nike launches nine-week campaign showcasing Kobe Bryant portraits". Insidesocal.com. 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Revolt TV". Complex Magazine.
  19. ^ "Portfolio Review: Hueman Tells the Stories Behind Her Colorful, Fragmented Portraits". Complex Magazine.
  20. ^ "Allison "Hueman" Torneros's "Ritual" at Think Tank Gallery". Hi-Fructose. 10 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Recap: Allison "HUEMAN" Torneros Ritual Exhibition ~ Think Tank Gallery". LA Taco. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  22. ^ "Being Hueman: Allison Torneros' New Mural in Los Angeles". Artslant. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  23. ^ "Allison "Hueman" Torneros: The Mad Muralist". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  24. ^ "L.A. Weekly People 2014". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-06-01. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  25. ^ Pawn Stars: Chum's Guide to Tagging Your Office (Season 8), 27 January 2020, archived from the original on 2020-05-31, retrieved 2020-04-07
  26. ^ ""Wander & Wayfare" Exhibit Celebrates Women Street Artists | 7x7". www.7x7.com. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  27. ^ a b "Wander and Wayfare • Rocha Art". Rocha Art. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  28. ^ ""Wander & Wayfare" opens May 29th • Rocha Art". Rocha Art. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  29. ^ "PangeaSeed". PangeaSeed. Archived from the original on 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
  30. ^ Faughnder, Ryan (2019-10-01). "Ava DuVernay's Array is a place for women and filmmakers of color in L.A." Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  31. ^ "Nike Honors Iconic '96 US Women's Team With New Hyperdunk 2016 Low". Nice Kicks. 2016-08-14. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  32. ^ "Artestar — Hueman x Forever 21". Artestar. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  33. ^ "Warriors Community Foundation and Chase Unveil Refurbished Court in Richmond". Golden State Warriors. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  34. ^ "Stephen Curry's New Shoe Is Inspired by a Refurbished Basketball Court in California". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  35. ^ "Colorful Graffiti-Inspired Overlays Decorate the Curry 8 "Feel Good Flow"". Hypebeast. 2020-12-10. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  36. ^ Drake, Julie (2 September 2020). "The Return of Pow! Wow!". Antelope Valley Press. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  37. ^ "Homebody". HUEMAN. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  38. ^ "Ranking the NBA City Edition jerseys: One team (not the Lakers) will wear a work of art". Los Angeles Times. 2022-11-10. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  39. ^ "Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship Aqua to set sail at Port Canaveral". 2 November 2023.
  40. ^ ""Shared Secrets" at Ian Ross Gallery". SFEnthusiast.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
  41. ^ Farr, Kristin (September 2015). "The Hueman Condition: A Wall-to-Wall Exploration of the Self". Juxtapoz.
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