Swiss-born graphic designer and creative director Kimou Meye is known by his moniker Grotesk, but his work is far from being grotesque. In fact, it’s very much inspiring.
Having worked for the past 10 years with almost all the key players in New York’s brand underground, Meye draws on his classical training and outsider’s perspective to develop an iconic graphic language and style. It’s his unique blend of low-brow and high-brow aesthetic that has caught the attention of people like Spike Lee, who’ve Meye ended up designing him T-shirts.
But when it comes to his creative background, it all begins with his parents. “Both of my parents were architects, and because it was a Swiss household, my family was passionate about minimal design,” said Meye in an interview with The Great Discontent. “Growing up, I hung out a lot in my parents’ woodshop,” he recalled. “My parents frequently built models and drew blueprints for their projects. I spent time drawing with my brother and making things out of wood. Hanging out with my parents in their shop was my first connection to the world of art and illustration.”
Nowadays, his art is a mixture of all sorts – anything from digital illustrations and murals to sneaker design and sculpting. “I believe risk-taking is more about daring to try something new,” he says. “You don’t want to be pigeonholed as the person who’s only known for one thing.”
Take a look at some of his unique art in the gallery below:
