Legend has it shoes are the first thing people look at when determining someone’s allure. For the discerning dresser, all good fits require a solid foundation.
Denver visual artist Rayvina Gonzalez knows this. It’s clear from all her work, no matter the medium, each piece and every series always radiates a keen sense of balance. Expressed through a lifetime of making art, she’s produced using a wide array of materials and techniques. Her oeuvre includes elegant takes on hats, t-shirts, flyers, logos, furniture, keychains, stickers and prints, as well as more traditional canvas and pottery work.
In 2020, Gonzalez branched out into custom footwear in the tradition of pioneers like The Shoe Surgeon and Mache. To date, she’s hand painted over 100 pairs, and while AF1s are her go-to, she also has worked with canvas styles like Vans and Converse, leather Nike cleats, Adidas and luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. “Most often, my customers provide me with a theme, a story or a mood board, and I interpret their narrative, painting it onto each step. In this way, every pair is a wearable story, a balance between movement and meaning,” she said. “Pricing varies depending on the complexity, but I tailor each project to the shoe.”
Gonzalez says her inspiration comes from street art, industrial design, hip hop and classic artforms, though it’s abundantly clear that she’s got skills dating back to childhood. “That’s the first memory I ever had, making art and being good at it,” she grinned. “I was self-aware from a very young age.”
Throughout her youth, Gonzalez bounced around Colorado, where her family quickly took notice of her talents. “I knew I was going to be an artist. That’s when I started asking for crafts for Christmas and birthdays,” she said. “I was surrounded by all these art supplies. My family loved giving me that stuff because they could tell I loved it so much.” Captivated by the pursuit, Gonzalez would make art everywhere she went. At school, she says other students would gawk before asking her for drawings. She would often give teachers art to hang in the classroom.
Her formative years were full of burnt-out boxes of crayons, colored pencils and Crayola markers. “As soon as I got a medium in my hand, I was doing everything, everywhere,” she continued. “I would carve into apples and make them look like a rose. I’d turn what was left of a lunch tray into a village.” Gonzalez says that she remembers many of her early projects, each new work another link in a lifetime commitment. “The things that mean a lot to me are cemented forever and ever,” she said, adding that her skills as an artist are augmented by her photographic memory.
These days, Gonzalez’s range allows her commission work to be truly client-centered. “I begin each project by creating a detailed mock-up drawing for my customers, so they get a clear preview of the final design. Once they see it, if they want any adjustments, I’m more than happy to refine it until it perfectly aligns with their vision. This step-by-step collaboration ensures we get a final piece that really resonates,” she said.
Gonzalez has also stressed that while shoes are an excellent platform for her visual style, she’s not afraid to challenge herself with projects she’s less familiar with. “Somebody can hit me up for a custom umbrella, I’ll do a custom umbrella. If they want a custom parking space, I’ll do a custom parking space. If they want custom wedding glasses, I’ll do custom wedding glasses,” she grinned. “I want to be a designer for everything.”
It’s clear that Gonzalez never cuts any corners, each piece a clear act of devotion. “That’s the only love I ever felt, doing art and the art reciprocating,” she said, noting that her creative process is more like a dialogue than just putting pen to paper or paint to canvas. “You’re always learning, you’re always bettering yourself. There’s some instant gratification,” continued Gonzalez. “I am art.”
Custom projects can be commissioned here. Gonzalez’s other projects can be viewed on her Instagram.
All photos by Adrienne Thomas.
