Autry and Rob Pruitt constructed a future-meets-past, all-chromed-out gas station in commemoration of their new collaboration in Miami this month.
Just 2,500 units of the sneakers, themselves decked out in a unique chrome styling and retailing for $380, were made available to the public after the unveiling. The space housing the launch, complete with various special guests stopping by including artist Bradley Theodore and celeb fitness trainer Starr Hawkins, was aptly dubbed “Autry Art Station,” thus driving home the intention of the design and its place in Pruitt’s larger catalog of works.
In a statement, Pruitt noted that he’s long been “drawn to outsider materials” in his creative process, citing glitter and various “found objects” as key examples.
“My language is direct, simple, minimal, and universal while tackling topics ranging from the lighthearted to the controversial,” Pruitt said. “There is nothing more beautiful and excellent than the classic Autry sneaker, which floods me with the impulse to chrome it, to put it on a pedestal, to celebrate its nostalgia and envision it moving into the future. The ephemeral reflective effect of the mirror finished leather turns every expectation around.”
Get a closer look at the sneaker below, as well as the gas station-inspired Autry Art Station experience.
