Behind the Design: Vuori x Artist Kelsey Brookes
Inspire Happiness
Behind The Design: Vuori x Kelsey Brookes
2025 / 10 mins
Behind The Design
Vuori x Kelsey Brookes
As a former biochemist turned artist, Kelsey Brookes has had an unexpected journey. Known for his colorful, kaleidoscopic paintings, his work transforms complex scientific concepts (like molecular structures) into abstract, meticulous compositions. For Brookes, this emphasis on the unseen, intricate details of nature helps viewers connect with the world around them in new ways.“I think there is a conception that science is not a spiritual pursuit”, says Brookes. “That science is a factual reductive pursuit, but I don’t think of it that way. It’s all material for making art."
Celebrating this unique intersection of art, mindfulness, and the pursuit of happiness, is something we love here at Vuori. Which is why we tapped the local San Diego artist for a specially designed capsule collection in honor of our 10-year anniversary and the Kore Short, the short that started it all.
From our super soft Feather Tee and Seaside Hoodie to our best-selling Kore Short, each piece of the limited-edition collection features one of Brook’s signature designs, hand-painted and printed exclusively for us as a tribute to Southern California’s boundless inspiration.
To kick off the collaboration, we traveled to his North Park studio in downtown San Diego to learn about his connection to art, nature, movement, and why Vuori made the perfect partner.
On Nature As The Ultimate Inspiration
“There’s not a thing that I paint that isn’t rooted in the natural world. It’s everything. But it’s also just inspiration— it’s a place to go, to be away, if things are altogether too much. You can just be out there.”
On Nature As The Ultimate Inspiration
“There’s not a thing that I paint that isn’t rooted in the natural world. It’s everything. But it’s also just inspiration— it’s a place to go, to be away, if things are altogether too much. You can just be out there.”
On His Creative Process
“You can sit around and wait for inspiration, or you can just start painting and see what happens and then ideas just build upon themselves. Both are very valid, and beautiful ways of making art, but I very much subscribe to just showing up and doing shit and seeing what happens.”
On His Creative Process
“You can sit around and wait for inspiration, or you can just start painting and see what happens and then ideas just build upon themselves. Both are very valid, and beautiful ways of making art, but I very much subscribe to just showing up and doing shit and seeing what happens.”
On Partnering With Vuori
“I’m trying to make art about the things that make consciousness happen in the hopes that it makes things better for other people. And I think Vuori is very much in the same place. They are trying to make things that people are interested in but also give them a little bit more. I think that’s super rad.”
On Partnering With Vuori
“I’m trying to make art about the things that make consciousness happen in the hopes that it makes things better for other people. And I think Vuori is very much in the same place. They are trying to make things that people are interested in but also give them a little bit more. I think that’s super rad.”
