Sculptor Daniel Arsham is collaborating with Dr. Seuss Enterprises—the first artist to do so—to release a capsule collection of artwork, home goods, and apparel inspired by Seuss’s 1971 classic The Lorax.
Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Massachusetts in 1904, wrote and illustrated more than 60 children’s books over the course of his six-decade career. The Lorax was his personal favorite, and came after his popular works The Cat in the Hat (1957), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957), and Green Eggs and Ham (1960).
The Lorax has been highly praised for its tackling of issues of pollution, deforestation, and the environment. The book was adapted into a feature film by Universal Pictures in 2012 starring Danny DeVito, and into a musical which performed at London’s Old Vic theatre in 2016 and San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in 2018.
Known for his sculptural practice that blurs the line between art and architecture, Arsham has also tackled environmental themes in his work, aligning him with the tale of The Lorax. “I’ve always been inspired by Dr. Seuss’s ability to communicate profound messages through storytelling and illustration,” the artist said. “In collaborating with The Lorax, I aimed to capture the essence of the original narrative while bringing a contemporary perspective.”
As part of the collaboration, launched to coincide with Earth Day, Arsham is creating a collectible hand-drawn reinterpretation of The Lorax made from recycled paper, priced at $85. Also available from late April will be recycled paper prints, apparel made from eco-cycle materials, and sustainable porcelain trays. The cheapest item in the release are the prints, priced at $60, and the most expensive will be a hoodie selling for $175.
“Celebrating the artistic brilliance of Dr. Seuss is something we consider a privilege,” said Susan Brandt, president and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, in a statement. “Watching an accomplished artist like Daniel Arsham add his distinct style to the message and the imagery of The Lorax has been a joy, and we look forward to sharing this dynamic collaboration with our fans and the contemporary art world at large.”
Dr. Suess joins Arsham’s ever-growing list of collaborators, which so far includes Dior, Disney, Tiffany & Co., Adidas, among many others. His artworks are held in the collection of the Walker Museum, and have been exhibited at Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art, The Athens Bienalle, and Amsterdam’s Moco Museum. His first photography exhibition recently opened at Fotografiska New York.
Arsham’s Lorax collection will be released at New York’s Perrotin Store on April 25 with an in-store book signing, and launched online from April 26.
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