19/04/2012

Agent Pekka is launching its first continental Europe office in Amsterdam. The agency will be opening its doors to Amsterdam’s creative crowd from 4 May, with an exhibition of key illustrators. Made in collaboration with 25 artists, the exhibition 'PEKKA IS HERE' goes on show at GUNS & BUTTER Gallery in the heart of Amsterdam.

For the launch of the Amsterdam office, Agent Pekka will present a series of unique artworks specially made for the occasion, sold on the opening night, from an impressive line-up of Agent Pekka creatives – a few illustrators will be present at the opening.

Pablo Steffa, co-founder of Agent Pekka says:
"The interesting mix of international and local advertising agencies, the presence of strong global brands and the appreciation the Dutch have for good design, are all reasons why we chose Amsterdam as the city for our first office abroad. Ultimately, however, it was finding the perfect candidate for heading the new office that sealed the deal for us. I am confident and excited to see how our roster of talent will inspire the local creatives."

The Amsterdam office will be headed up by Caroline Svensson. A native of Sweden, Caroline has spent many years in Amsterdam as an Art Producer at both Wieden+Kennedy and 180 Amsterdam. Clients included Adidas, Nokia, Coca Cola, Honda, Nike, and Electronic Arts.

Anchored in the Amsterdam creative and artistic scene, she says of her new role:
"For several years now I’ve had my eye on Agent Pekka’s roster of talented illustrators and the great work they produce, so it’s an exciting opportunity for me to have the chance to promote their work here in the Netherlands."

The exhibition at GUNS & BUTTER Gallery will feature works by Vincent Bakkum, Emil Bertell, Jamie Cullen, Owen Gatley, Minni Havas, Eero Johannes, Inka Järvinen, Eili-Kaija Kuusniemi, Linda Linko, Sac Magique, Sanna Mander, Santtu Mustonen, Rami Niemi, Lotta Nieminen, Mike Perry, Pietari Posti, Janine Rewell, Miika Saksi, Sami Saramäki, Ville Savimaa, Antti Uotila and Holly Wales.

Amsterdam-based illustrator, Santtu Mustonen, says: "Over the past few years I have whistled and cycled through many of Amsterdam's alleys and streets. Though I have discovered much of the city, my days are often enriched by the unexpected curiosities and gloomy masterpieces that I encounter. I am glad that we are going to be among these. "

In addition to work by best-of-breed illustrators, Agent Pekka’s exhibition will also feature creations by multi-awarded creative agency Kokoro & Moi, the D&AD award-winning design studio Musuta and the freshly established creative agency Tsto.

Gallery contacts: 
GUNS & BUTTER
Lauriergracht 11
1016 Amsterdam

For press enquiries, please contact:
Pablo Steffa
+358.50.363.5252
pablo@agentpekka.com

After the opening on May 4, the show will be open to view Saturday May 5 from 12 – 6pm, and Thursday May 10 to Saturday May 12 from 12 - 6pm.The gallery will have a press preview the day of the opening during normal gallery hours, 12 - 6pm, special viewings can be arranged.

31/10/2011

The Art Directors Club (www.adcglobal.org), the premier organisation for creatives in integrated media and the first global creative collective of its kind, announced a lively new campaign on October 26 by DDB New York to promote the call for entries for the ADC 91st Annual Awards.

The integrated campaign, launching on October 26 at www.adcawards.org and through a global print mailing on November 1, encourages creative teams around the world to "Keep fighting the good fight" despite obstacles to creating great work.

DDB, serving as the club's creative partner for the ADC 91st Annual Awards, developed all aspects of the campaign strategy and execution. The agency worked with Agent Pekka's illustrator Rami Niemi to design artwork for nine CFE posters and postcards showing humorous situations in modern day advertising that illustrate the impediments and obstacles to creating great work.

The posters include headlines such as "I think we should schedule a meeting" overlaying a visual of a meeting already in progress. Another poster depicts a photo shoot for a can of unbranded tuna, with the statement, “I want it to be Irving Penn meets Helmut Newton.”

The agency also tapped renowned comedian Lewis Black, famous for his idiosyncratic comedy style, to create an original rant recording for the campaign. The animated rant video features Black channeling his inner advertising creative and fuming about the pressures of agency life with double-edged witticisms such as, "Comedy routines are developed over lifetimes. Movie scripts are crafted over years. But a compelling message to woo consumers into a buying frenzy... Yeah, we're gonna need that by three o'clock."

The animation can be viewed here, audio NSFW: http://www.adcawards.org/news.

The agency has also created online banner advertising that will appear on leading advertising and design industry sites.

"DDB New York went above and beyond the call of duty to give us a truly integrated campaign," said Olga Grisaitis, director, ADC. "Creatives will relate to the portrayal of the challenges they face each day in the creative process."

"We wanted to give a nod to all the pain and suffering that every creative person goes through in order to produce a great idea," said Matt Eastwood, chief creative officer, DDB New York. "From getting the idea through the account team to the client meeting to the final production, there are so many hurdles and so many casualties. We wanted to encourage creatives to 'Keep fighting the good fight' because in the end, an ADC Cube makes it all worthwhile."

The online call for entries for the Art Directors Club's 91st Annual Awards is open at www.adcawards.org. Deadlines for entry are January 20, 2012, for Design, Photography, Illustration and Interactive; January 27, 2012, for Student, and February 10, 2012, for Advertising and Integrated. To receive the printed CFE, please sign up at http://www.adcglobal.org/register/user.

Agency: DDB New York
CCO: Matt Eastwood
CD: Menno Kluin
Copywriter: Aron Fried, Mike Sullivan, Rodrigo de Castro
Art Director: Carlos Wigle, Joao Unzer
Designer: Juan Carlos Pagan
Illustrator: Rami Niemi
Music: DJ Rogo
Art Buyers: Carol Brandwein, Jane Piampiano

28/09/2011

The results are in for this year's Art Directors Club's Young Guns and we're thrilled to announce that our illustrator, Inka Järvinen, is one of the 50 winners of this highly regarded award.

ADC Young Guns is the only international, cross-disciplinary, portfolio-based awards competition that identifies today’s vanguard of young creative professionals age 30 or younger.

See all the ADC Young Guns 9 winners here.

If you're in New York, make sure to visit the ADC Gallery on October 13 to celebrate this year's ADC Young Guns 9 winners. Selected work from the winners' portfolios will be shown in the gallery through November 3.

Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 7-10 p.m.
ADC Members: Free
Non-Members: $25
For tickets, visit the adcyoungguns.org website.

ADC Gallery
106 West 29th Street
New York, NY 10001

And don't forget to stock up on ADC Young Guns annuals at the ADC Store.

10/06/2011

Ville Savimaa is featured in the upcoming adidas Urban Artist Series exhibition opening on July 8th at the West Berlin Gallery.

For the Urban Artist Series adidas teamed up with some of the most outstanding international artists to create fresh interpretations of sports performance. The exhibition features selected pieces from the clothing line alongside the artists' original works and contributions from the adidas designers. The Urban Artist Series exhibition is on at West Berlin Gallery from July 8th to 23rd 2011. The opening takes place on July 8th at 19.00.

Contributing artists:
Mr. Jago, UK - www.mrjago.com
Chow Martin, Canada - www.chowmartin.com
Pomme Chan, UK - www.pommepomme.com
Ville Savimaa, Finland - www.villesavimaa.com
Russ Mills / Byroglyphics, UK - www.byroglyphics.com
Rubens LP, Brazil - www.rubenslp.com.br
Robbie Wilkinson, UK - www.robbiesbrownshoes.com
Claire Scully, UK - www.thequietrevolution.co.uk
Calvin Ho, China - www.atomicattack.com
+ adidas designers

West Berlin Gallery
Brunnenstraße 56
13355 Berlin
+49 (0)30 548 566 29
www.westberlingallery.com

30/05/2011

Pietari Posti's illustrations are featured in best-selling author Mike Perry's (Hand Job, Over and Over) latest book about screen printing.

Popularized in the 1960s by Pop artists like Andy Warhol, screen printing remains a favorite among artists due to its versatility, duplicability, and relatively low cost. In Pulled: A Catalog of Screen Printing, Mike Perry has collected the work of more than forty of today’s most talented designers who are, in their own way, pushing the boundaries of this dynamic medium.

In addition to Pietari's work, the stunning book features artists such as Deanne Cheuk, Steven Harrington, Rinzen, Andy Smith, and many more.

For more information and to purchase the book, visit mikeperystudio.com.