February 24, 2021 – Born in 1992 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tarik Mendes spent most of his childhood making art. Later moving to the United States of America when he was 10 years old. While he never attended art school, he learned by wandering through New York galleries and museums growing up. Drawing inspirations from unexpected places, scribbling his own versions of cartoons, comic books and most time creating his own toys to play with. Although he did not know how to speak English after moving to the USA, he spent most of his times drawing while looking out of windows. Windows were arguably exerted the most influence on Tarik. His lifelong fascination with net screen in windows later manifested into his own work years later. Tarik explores both the power and vulnerability of net screen in his work.
At the age of 21 years old in 2013, Tarik begin to pursue a full time career in New York City as a multi medium disciplinary artist. After a few commissions of his work onto clothing and bags, Tarik begin to develop the possibility of a wearable art brand. Soon after he begin to pursue TelaModa LLC, which is a one-of -a-kind luxury fashion brand that combines the very best in luxury fashion and the latest trends in fine arts, to create customized wearable art for the customer. Tarik idea’s was to have a wholesale and direct to consumer brand. After two years in development, TelaModa was launched in 2015.
Although TelaModa LLC didn’t have a physical location, it was operated from Tarik Mendes art studio in midtown Manhattan. While collaborating with retailers in New York City for pop ups or special wearable art events. TelaModa, which can be literally translated as “canvas fashion” consisted of handbags, ready to wear, jewelry, accessories and totes. TelaModa also featured a unique sales customazition option. Where consumers could select a piece of clothing, design to have it painted onto their items. Making each piece a true of a kind wearable art item. As well as having the option to mail in an item the consumer wanted to be customized.
While Tarik led the team at TelaModa LLC, he was also pursuing his artistic career as a multi medium artist. Tarik’s medium mostly consists of multi disciplinary mediums. Such as paintings, sculptures, photography, furniture, drawings and mixed media. Tarik begin constructing canvas structures fully made out of net screen, each one custom made and built by Tarik himself.
Tarik’s creative process was sort of an uncalculated improvisation using several mediums and techniques to create his art. Using mostly construction materials along with paint, oil sticks, spray paint, among other items. By emphasizing aesthetics, Mendes seduces the viewer into a world of ongoing equilibrium and the interval that articulates the good and the ugly of daily life. His works are notable for their textured finish and colorful nature. This is of great importance and bears witness to great craftsmanship. By applying abstraction, he considers making art a craft which is executed using clear formal rules and which should always refer to social reality.
After TelaModa, Tarik begin having an interested in creating an artsy stationery line. Soon after the launch of TelaModa LLC in 2015, Tarik followed up with TelaModaPrints LLC only a year later in 2016. TelaModaPrints consisted of over 400 greeting cards designs, gift tags, place cards and canvas tote bags all designed and created by Tarik himself. With the same customization options consumer could obtain from TelaModa they were also available at TelaModaPrints. Being able to customized an already existing card design from the collection or being able to create a full personalized design through the TelaModaPrints website.
TelaModaprints designs can be found in both nationally and internationally retailers stores. Such as popular stores/gift shops as Museum of Arts and Design, Museum of the City of New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, IC Store by WantedDesign, FIDM Museum Shop, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Museum of Nebraska Gift Shop and many more.
Tarik works on multiple projects at once in his studio, describing himself as a 24/7 creative artist. He keeps multiples net screen canvas in his studio, operating from one project to the other. Since Tarik builds all of his net screen frames from scratch; adding multiple layers of texture can take days to fully dry, so he works on various projects at once. While one canvas dries, he paints on another, then adds touches to his sculptures and much more. What started early in his career as just net screen paintings, today it has transformed to interior design pieces.
Tarik began adding LED lights at the very start of his artistic career behind his paintings, which later on led his interest in experimenting in creating light fixtures all the way to chairs and couches. Although he started with the creating his own net screen canvas textured medium, he furthered his work with resin and spray foam developing them into paintings as well as custom frames.
He has created thousands of art works, ranging from paintings all the way to interior design pieces. A wide variety of his work can be found on his website. Tarik currently works and lives in New York City.
Social media links for Tarik Mendes:
Website www.tarikmendes.comInstagram https://instagram.com/tarikmendesTwitter https://twitter.com/tarikmendesartPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/tarikmendesFacebook http://www.facebook.com/tarikmendesYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeEg9tb3sqW-Jo9jdl6dAcwVimeo https://vimeo.com/tarikmendesFlickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/191207914@N06
Social media links for TelaModaPrints:
Website www.telamodaprints.comInstagram https://instagram.com/telamodaprintsTwitter https://twitter.com/telamodaprintsPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/telamodaprintsFacebook http://www.facebook.com/telamodaprintsYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNOc6YksktJ07owDbTwYN_wVimeo https://vimeo.com/telamodaprints
Social media links for TelaModa:
Website www.telamoda.comInstagram https://instagram.com/telamodaTwitter https://twitter.com/_telamodaGoogle Plus https://www.google.com/+TelamodaPinterest https://www.pinterest.com/telamoda_wearableart Facebook http://www.facebook.com/telamoda.wearableart)YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHOpvLAh65ZovVJMCVsM-fQ |Vimeo https://vimeo.com/telamodavimeo
Media ContactCompany Name: Tarik Mendes Art StudioContact Person: Tarik MendesEmail: Send EmailPhone: (646) 960-8767City: New York CityState: New YorkCountry: United StatesWebsite: www.tarikmendes.com
