If you’re from NYC (or even if you’re not), you owe it to yourself to venture way out to the western edge of Manhattan. For just between Chelsea to the North and the West Village to the South, there spans a brilliantly conceived re-appropriation of defunct railway tracks: the Highline is an elevated walkway in greenery astrew, the latter inspired by the native flora that began to take root while the infrastructure had gone to seed. And in your stroll along the Highline, don’t deign to stop at André Balazs’ newest incarnation of his Standard Hotel, a hip and trendy boutique joint that’s just received the esteemed distinction of its very own light bulb—by none other than the former graffiti artist, erstwhile Disney animator, creator of limited edition vinyl toys, and sculptor/artist known as KAWS.

X Lightbulb. Designed by André Balazs.

Limited Edition Bulbs with Retro Appeal

With a portfolio like that, one might surmise it’s easily just a hop and a skip to designing something as rare and precious as a customized light bulb, and so it is. KAWS and Balazs chose a simple bulb as the artist’s contribution to this new civic landmark for its transformative effect to the hotel’s interior: “When invited to create something I wanted to redesign something basic that could be found in every hotel room in the world so we decided to make a light bulb. I like the low colored glow it gives, similar to a candle.” The low glow suits the environs, and the delicate twin Xs that constitute the bulb’s filament suit it even more. The limited edition bulb has a retro appeal via the down-and-dirty route, evoking neon signage and anonymity—a pair of phenomena much in evidence in times past at Manhattan’s old meatpacking district, which happens to be the Standard’s very neighborhood. And though it may be well on its way to gentrification, the region yet retains a tinge and a tingle of the tantalizing tawdry.

Via NotCot.

About the Designer: KAWS was born one Brian Donnelly from just across the Hudson in Jersey City. In 1996, Mr. Donnelly received a BA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. After a brief foray as a freelance animator, he moved on to the less lucrative pastime of social disruption via creative alteration, by artistically improving upon advertising imagery in the public sphere of billboards, bus shelters, and phone booths. But not until he began designing limited edition vinyl toys did his reputation begin to precede him. He’s known for his ability to straddle the art/mass merchandise divide and many of his renowned works involve appropriations and manipulations of pop culture icons.