Streetsnaps: Teoni Hinds

“I don't feel like I've even entered the art world. I think there's still a lot more to be done,” Teoni Hinds tells Hypebeast about her journey so far for the latest installment of Streetsnaps.

Born and raised in North West London, the 24-year-old East London-based artist offers a breath of fresh air to the ever-evolving art landscape. Shaping lessons learnt from her studies in fine art through a contemporary lens, she marries traditional techniques with inspirations from influential cultural moments, experience of community togetherness as well as her heritage to create unique realism paintings that boast a vibrant color palette — paving her way in the scene as one the most exciting young creatives to come out of the city.

“I love London, it has such a vibrant energy. People hate it, but you know, you can never really hate home.”

While some might know of Hinds’ work with fellow London-based artist Slawn, she first connected with her counterpart after responding to his callout to recruit an assistant. That spur-of-the-moment interaction has since led to a long-lasting partnership, actualized in hosting successful art workshops at his East London BeauBeaus café, and beyond. “I’ve always said that I wanted to hold life drawing classes,” she explains of how the workshops came to fruition. “Then Slawn randomly said he bought a café so let’s make an art club. It started with that. Very minimal. When we do things, we don't talk about them extensively at all.”

What started as a passing idea has expanded into a growing community of promising artists looking to connect with like-minded people. This is where Hinds can also give back, passing knowledge on to the next generation — something she had longed for when starting out in her career. “There were literally four or five people in my art class in school,” she recalls. “It was a very overlooked subject. Now in the art club, there are hundreds.”

Drawing upon her subjects’ personalities in her work, Hinds pays homage to the power of fashion as it serves as an immediate reflection of people’s unique characters before getting into the intimate details. Despite describing her own style as minimal, functional, and uniform "like a cartoon character," her vibrant paintings, however, are far from that, typically letting “the art do the talking rather than the clothes.”

Nevertheless, with PUMA’s latest H-Street, its bold colorway and versatile low-profile silhouette are suited for a variety of aesthetics. Pairing well with her pared-back outfit, Hinds effortlessly styles the sneaker in a layered button shirt and varsity jacket that complements her daily art activities.

Read the full interview with Teoni Hinds below.

Hypebeast: How did your love for painting begin?

Hinds: I started drawing when I was around eight years old. My siblings and I used to watch a lot of cartoons, and I would redraw the characters. It’s weird, but I really love SpongeBob – that’s what sparked it.

What was your entrance into the art world?

I don't feel like I've even entered the art world. I think there's still a lot more to be done. I haven’t even cracked half of what I could do. But it’s nice that maybe a small part of London knows me, which I’m grateful for.

The scene is traditionally seen as an elitist space to conquer. How do you challenge that?

It’s one of those things where I just naturally always have done, and continue to do, what I want to do. I'm not really good at listening to things when I'm supposed to. It's not a conscious decision where I'm like, “I'm gonna take down this gallery because they don't want to let me in,” it's more that I'll make my own opportunities. I've learned that from my peers, too. We don't wait for anyone or anything, we've always just created our own.

What other creative outlets inspire you that you enjoy channeling?

I do a lot of film photography. It helps with my paintings -- all my references I take myself. Not many people actually know that I shoot on film to do that. I also like to do some video documentation -- I’ll never put it out there though, because… I don't know, I’ll save it for another time. [laughs]

You host art workshops for the community. How did that come about?

I told Slawn that I’ve always wanted to hold life drawing classes, and then he came to me one day randomly and said, "I just bought a café so let's make an art club." It started with that. Very minimal. When we do things, we don't even talk about them extensively. Literally, on the day of the club, we went to an art store, bought all the materials, came back, took pictures, and that was it.

Why is it important to host these sessions and pass the knowledge on to the next generation?

It's so important to me because I didn't have that. Everything I've done, I've had to learn myself. I didn't have anyone I could learn from, bounce off, or look up to because they were in the industry. There were like four or five people in my art class in school. It was a very overlooked subject. Now, in the art club, there are hundreds. It's something I would’ve loved to have when I was younger.

There are many references in your work from either iconic visuals of London street culture past and present, or people in your circle. Why have you chosen those moments to recreate in your style?

I'm born and bred in London, so I've been raised on that real community feel. My parents are Jamaican and I remember always going out to a big party, even for minor celebrations. I've got six siblings, too, so it's hard to feel alone because I was raised on that togetherness. That's what I try to portray in my work — the sense of what’s happening right now, through my eyes. I love London, it has such a vibrant energy. People hate it, but you know, you can never really hate home.

"My style is very chill and minimal. You can't have too many outlandish things -- I just let the art do the talking rather than the clothes."

Tell us a bit about the self-portrait you’ve showcased.

This piece is called Why can't you just be normal?. All my work is about what I'm going through, and I was going through the typical rough situationship at the time. I was just pissed off, and everytime I'm pissed off, I start a new canvas because it gets very aggressive at the start, I love it. Then, when you go into the details, it becomes more peaceful. I started writing my thoughts and feelings about what was going on, that's why you can see some words coming out from underneath.

Then, I did it upside down because I just felt like it. You know when you’re frustrated, you just need a little challenge to get you through. Everyone always says, “Yo, this thing's upside down.” I’m like, “Look, guys, this is how it's supposed to be done.” And ‘til this day, no one stops commenting on it. I love that piece, it's one of my favorites here.

What is the significance behind the color palette you used for the piece?

I was very much free-styling. I think that's the first time I began introducing purple in my work. Since then, I’ve really loved using purple. I have basic colors in my head, and I don't usually branch out too much, but that was the first piece where I did. Not only just in the clothing, but also in the skin tones, too.

How does art inspire fashion, and vice versa? And how would you describe your style?

The thing about fashion is that it’s so unique to everyone. I like the fact that someone’s outfit reflects their personality, and that definitely reflects in the work because I like to investigate people's personalities in my paintings.

I try sometimes to go vibrant with my fashion choices, I have a few statement pieces that kind of reflect my art. But for the most part, I feel like my style is very chill and minimal. You can't have too many outlandish things — I just let the art do the talking rather than the clothes.

What were your first thoughts on the PUMA H-Street?

That they’re bright, and I don't have any bright shoes, so I initially thought this was different. But I like the silhouette and how streamline they are. They’re super comfortable and lightweight, too — it kind of molds to your foot.

What was your process of styling the sneaker the way you did?

I'm like a cartoon character -- I wear the same thing every day. Trying to branch out into something different was difficult, but I got there. I tried many combinations, and because it's such a unique shoe in a bright colorway, I tried to do the same thing I usually wear. I love a long sleeve under a T-shirt with a nice shirt to break up the layers, and finished it with baggy jeans. I think it worked.

Check out Teoni Hinds’ Streetsnaps visuals above.

Stay tuned for more on the new PUMA H-Street. To explore other styles, visit the brand’s website.

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