Behind the Bag | Get to Know Artist James Haunt, Designer of the Latest TaylorMade Major Championship Collection
Golf has always been equal parts art and science. The ability to combine imagination and technicality to bring your vision to life. Approach the shot, visualize the outcome and then execute.
Few TaylorMade creations embody that blend of art and application like the 2023 Summer Commemorative Staff Bag and Headcover collection.
With the City of Angels playing hosts to the championship, we partnered with iconic L.A. artist James Haunt to bring this ideology to life. Haunt began his career on the walls, alleyways and rooftops of Southern California – using spray cans as a portal into his imagination.
It didn't take long for people to stop chasing him off abandoned properties and start chasing him to commission his work. His undeniably bold and beautiful art would find its way onto popular murals worldwide, capturing the attention of many. He's since collaborated with brands such as Porsche, Nike, Red Bull and ESPN. Now, you can add TaylorMade Golf to the list.
Before this week's championship, we sat down with Haunt to inquire about his artistic inspirations, his perception of golf and the purpose behind this design.
What inspires your art?
My main source of inspiration is my own imagination. I create things I haven't seen before…. I [enjoy] seeing what's out there, filling the pockets and taking on the voids. As a child, I appreciated other art forms and artists, but I always strived to do something different. That's where my style was born. It came from a place of wanting to explore untapped territories – things I didn't see other artists doing.
What drives your connection to Los Angeles?
I was born in East L.A. and grew up in the outskirts. As soon as I turned 18, I moved to the city and Downtown raised me as an artist. My first solo exhibit debuted in Little Tokyo, and that became my main hub. My hood.
I was fortunate to grow up in a city where there's a lot of talent and a lot of creativity. There's never a dull moment. The city that has groomed me to be constantly creating, constantly on the go. I'm thankful for the creativity and the beauty that L.A. has allowed me to experience. It has a gritty side but also a very vibrant energy. My art, and this bag, tell that same story. There's an aggressive kind of grit to it, but then there's a bright, vibrant poppiness to it all. That embodies my relationship with Los Angeles.
Had you worked in the golf space before this project?
I actually hadn't. I just started getting into the game recently through a good friend who thought it'd be a great idea to introduce me to golf – to help bridge the gap between art and golf. He said golf needed people like me to help drive change.
Very serendipitously, I got an email from TaylorMade about this project a few months later. I had to call my friend like: "We're gonna do a project with TaylorMade." We were both beside ourselves. The things we were talking about, saying "the industry needs this," were happening and coming true. We were bridging two different worlds. Dope.
Before this project, how did you view golf?
I'd had some preconceived notions because golf always felt out of reach. I grew up in the inner city, and it wasn't prevalent in my neighborhood or where I hung out. But when my friend introduced me, golf felt more obtainable. I found out it was something I could actually do. It's not necessarily because I'm older, but it was how I was introduced. Having people who grew up in a similar way as me, seeing them playing golf, it made it possible for me.
How does this bag stand out compared to other TaylorMade major championship bags?
Ultimately, I approached this project unlike anything I've done before. I didn't necessarily want to compete with the other bags, but I knew this was going be something unique – not only to my experience, but I was hoping to TaylorMade, as well. Seeing the team's initial response and feedback, I could tell this one was special.
Where does this design fit into the golf landscape?
My idea of golf is that it's pretty buttoned up. I'm a little looser and a bit more raw in my personal style. However, TaylorMade is a very curated high-end product, and I wanted to juxtapose it with some aggressive graffiti elements. That's why we used paint textures, spray gradients and added drips to the logos and Metal T.
Throughout the design, I wanted to maintain the quality and status TaylorMade is known for – while bringing some street elements. You know, the opposite of what I thought the golf industry was.
What do you want people to take away when they see this bag?
When they look at the bag, I would love for people to see golf as an evolving sport that can open up to many more people. That golf is an awesome space to do a lot of creative things – it's not something you can put in a box.
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