Art

The Art of Pursuing a Progressive Passion

Comic book sketching is a common creative outlet for young kids with an artistic imagination. However, for Ohio native, Nick Haas, this conventional childhood pastime evolved into anything but ordinary art work. Twenty-some years of dedication to defining the differentiating details of his designs have resulted in “Haastyle: urban artwork and furniture that speak to the soul of the city”. Today, Nick Haas’ creative intuition combines with his education in graphic design to bring forth unique digital works, illuminating city life through an innovative style.

Nick Haas took an interest in progressive art at a young age. Growing up, relatives told stories of the splendor that was Cleveland before Nick’s time. But grandeur and glamour was not what Nick saw when he looked at the buildings in his hometown.

“When I was growing up, it was always like a ghost town. You have a lot of these empty warehouses; this part of the city that kind of was something. Kind of had these souls that used to be there, that aren’t necessarily there anymore. But the only thing that’s left is the structures that kind of tell the story.”

This is where Nick’s fascination with the urban environment began. Instead of focusing his photography on more traditional subjects, the buildings and structures he captures with his camera tell historical stories of the physical foundation of a city. Nick aims to shine a new light on these structures, and awaken his audiences’ senses to appreciate a perspective they may have neglected to notice. There was only one problem in Cleveland.

“I had an interest in photography and graphic design growing up, but I didn’t really have a place to express it.” Nick said. “But then coming here to Chicago was a big eye opener because obviously the market here for artists and designers is huge. You can actually see the full expression of that.” The strong soul of Chicago stood out and spoke to this aspiring artist.

Nick enrolled in graphic design classes at DePaul University in Chicago. He recalls, “I think at that point it became a real solidified path when I got here; art and design is what I wanted to do. And I didn’t know it was going to be what I’m doing now, I just knew, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Post-graduation Nick was in search of a place to display his art, and found a wine bar in Bucktown called Vintage that displayed the works of various artists on a three month rotating basis. The tall ceilings and spacious walls called for bigger pieces of art. This stipulation launched the large format digital collage murals for which Haastyle is known. The nine or ten works that Nick created for this showing were hugely successful and remained at Vintage for a year. Nick says finding “alternative gallery space” is an approach that can result in “more visibility and allow [an artist] to reach a different audience than just a gallery audience.” His run at Vintage garnered a multitude of clients and kick started what Haastyle has become today.

Nick continues to explore and expand collections of the digital collages that had become his signature throughout school. “Trial by fire” is a technique Nick uses when he takes single photographs and molds them into a carefully crafted collage. This motto has also lead Haastyle to a multitude of creative accomplishments including:

Executing the idea of the Gestell Cocktail table into a reality

Finishing the re-design of Haastyle.com

Being a part of the motion/vision/transition show in Chicago

Printing on raw materials, such as wood and aluminum

Presenting his artistic process at the Apple Store on North Michigan Ave. in Chicago

Nick Haas has artistic shows, furniture, publicity and press surrounding his art work; not to mention the pleasure of partnering with his best friend and cousin, Nate Winter. What more could a young artist ask for?

“Nate and I still have so far to go, you know. We’ve been fortunate enough to have some press coverage and success in a minor way, and it’s been good for us in terms of exposure but, just remember, it wasn’t built in a day.”

A constant inspiration for these artists comes directly from fellow artists who look to push the envelope in their respective fields. Nick Haas’ distinctive design style, complimented by the creative writing of Nate Winter, makes for a fusion of progressive thinking in the artistic world.

Haastyle has recently taken an artistic risk by extending the beauty of the urban environment onto functional pieces of furniture. Interior design is an avenue they hope to explore more extensively in the near future. Another ambition Nick and Nate are aiming for is making the vision of a “Haastyle show” into a reality.

“We’ll take over an entire space and make it a total urban kind of environment. The main idea would be to have giant murals of the art on the wall, but then bring in tables and chairs and showcase things on the tables and chairs so people can sit in it, but at the same time it’s like a show.”

These lofty goals can seem like far off dreams for hopeful artists. Through hard work and perseverance, Nick and Nate have been able to pursue their passion of progressive art. Nick says, “Some days it may feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle, but if you believe in it, do it."