Some artists influence you.
Some completely rearrange the way you see the world.
For me, Stanley Kubrick was the second kind.
I wanted to capture that unmistakable Kubrick gaze: analytical, intense, slightly distant. The kind of stare that feels like it’s studying you as much as you’re studying it. But as I worked, it didn’t feel right to leave him alone on the page. Kubrick didn’t just make films — he built entire worlds. So I began building markers of his creations around him.
Out of black ink shapes and controlled chaos, his characters emerged.
The unblinking red eye of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Alex from A Clockwork Orange, defiant and unforgettable.
The cold stillness of the twins — and the madness of Jack Torrance from The Shining.
The raw intensity of Full Metal Jacket.
And, of course, the absurd brilliance of Dr. Strangelove — complete with the falling bomb and its cowboy rider cutting through the composition.
Each element flows through the piece like fragments of memory. They aren’t arranged neatly. They orbit, collide, overlap — much like the ideas Kubrick explored throughout his career.
In the upper corner, there’s a quiet detail some people notice immediately and others miss entirely: a distant lunar module drifting toward the moon. A subtle nod to the cultural myth that refuses to die. Not a statement — just a whisper. A wink at the conversations Kubrick’s legacy continues to spark.
Alongside the framed print, there’s also a T-shirt version of the design. I wanted a version that could be worn — something that carries the same intensity in a more everyday way. On the T-shirt, Kubrick remains at the center, surrounded by scrawled, inked shapes bearing the titles of his films. The handwritten forms feel raw and immediate, almost like notes in the margin of cinema history.
This piece is about nostalgia and influence. Kubrick’s films are meticulous, uncomfortable, beautiful, and sometimes deeply unsettling. I wanted the artwork to be a heartfelt nod to his influence. Whether you choose the framed print or the T-shirt, the heart of it is the same: a portrait of a filmmaker who didn’t just tell stories — he changed the language of cinema. And if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance he changed it for you too.
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