Crew Turns Plywood into Artwork

The J. Crew Group (New York) has commissioned two British artists to create presentations on the plywood barriers outside the company’s three new London stores in progress.

Shona Heath, a set designer and art director, is unveiling the first of her two installations, at Crew’s soon-to-open flagship on Regent Street, today.

As reported by Women’s Wear Daily, it feature a three-dimensional installation of life-size London taxi cabs floating above the sidewalk, and along the front and side facades of the building. Each taxi will be individually designed and decorated.

For the other store, a J. Crew Collection on Draycott Avenue in South Kensington, Heath has created a whimsical, colorful mural called “Blossom Explosion,” that looks as if a tree is growing up the building.

And Hugo Guinness will add his design to the plywood covering Crew’s new menswear store on Lamb’s Conduit Street in Camden. He has drawn 38 lambs doing things such as shaving, riding bicycles and playing cricket.