This Air Force 1 Was Made for Photographer Clayton Patterson’s New Art Show, Not You

Canadian artist Clayton Patterson has been photographing the scene in New York’s Lower East Side since he moved to the city in 1979. The co-owner and operator of a legendary gallery on Essex Street from the early ‘80s into the new millennium, Patterson is still an icon in the downtown NYC scene. To celebrate his latest show, Nike hooked up the photographer with an exclusive pair of Air Force 1s.

Clayton is opening a photography show downtown this weekend, and to celebrate the occasion, Nike created the Air Force 1 Low Clayton Patterson PE. Patterson showed off the pair on Instagram, featuring a black leather base, white embroidery-stitched Swooshes and heel tabs, plus a skull graphic on the left lateral heel and a handshake graphic on the right lateral heel.

Clayton’s name is added in blue script on the left heel tab, and Elsa is added on the right to complete the PE pair. Keeping things classic on the bottom half of the shoe, the black midsole features white “Air” branding on the lateral side.

The Nike Air Force 1 Low Clayton Patterson PE is not for sale, it is not for attendees of the art opening, and will not be made part of your collection. In an effort to keep sneakerheads at bay from thinking the shoe might pop up at the photo show, organizers made sure to note on social media that no shoes will be released at this weekend’s gallery party. Real art fans only. To keep up with all the latest Nike Air Force 1 PE news, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Zach Harris

Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com