moving into the diverse & deeply interconnected landscape of downtown d.c. was a new & exciting endeavor for the maman team. as the birthplace of the constitution & a renowned cultural hub, d.c. felt like a natural fit for our brand. starting in georgetown &, most recently, moving into the union market district, we’ve enjoyed every second of our sojourn into d.c. what better way to reflect the local flavor of the neighborhood than to team up with a talented local artist on a custom cup?

meet michael crossett, a mixed media artist & designer who has been living & working in the d.c. area for the last twenty years. his art evokes the urban & contemporary themes that have inspired his artistry throughout his life both in d.c. and traveling around the world. michael is a truly diverse artist, experimenting with a multitude of forms from printmaking & laser cut concepts to digital photography & metal work.

“as dc continues to transform, i am drawn to contrast of historic and contemporary architecture and design, commercialism, and the energy that surrounds me. in a way, i am my own architect by creating new structures which juxtapose photography and found images with with relevant and most often commercial symbols and icons.”

capturing the intricacy of union market’s industrial architecture & juxtaposing it with the bustling nature of the surrounding d.c. landscape, michael created a truly unique design for our latest cup competition selection. read along for a q&a as we ask michael to describe his artistic process, love for dc, and advice to fellow artists.

when did you know that you wanted to be an artist?

i was a photographer from a very young age, but did not realize my art potential until i took a screen printing course in my late twenties.  for me, i loved dark room photography and developing film which became too expensive.  when i learned screen printing, i was able to use my photography in a new way and i felt the process of screen printing still had the magic and romance of development and unexpected outcomes.

did you study art in school or are you self taught?

other than a few screen printing courses i am pretty much self taught. i owe a lot of understanding of color and composition to the years of music album artwork, fashion magazines and design publications that i studied and absorbed.

what are 3 of your favorite spots or activities to do in dc and/or union market?

i love walking the alleys of union market… taking photos of the graffiti and celebrating that despite all the development in the area,  some things remain the same and continue to thrive.  i love to meet friends and family for great food at st anslem.  and crate digging at byrdland.  and shopping for italian food at il litteria.

do you have any rituals that you like to do before you start a new piece of art?

i always find the right mood with great electronic or trip hop music to get me started in the studio. i don’t have to worry about the noise, so i can play it loud.

what’s your favorite medium to work with?

my go-to medium is collaged original photography and silk screens using acrylic paints.  i have also don’t a lot of work using resin as a glossy finish.

where do you get your inspiration from for your work?

my inspiration always come from street life and traveling.  i was fortunate to have jobs earlier in my career that took my all of europe and i grew up in japan and hawaii.  i feel i have a good world view and i like to use my art to celebrate urban culture and life.  in addition, music, album artwork and fashion always excites me.

describe your artistic process: are you a planner or more go-with-the flow?

i create a lot of commissioned pieces which require a good amount of planning. to screen print, i have to choose and develop film of my images which is the planning part… once i reach my studio and begin to paint, i try and be as spontaneous and experimental with my process as i can be.  i found that trying need things out and not overthinking the process, yields exciting results.

if you could only pick 3 kinds of art supplies to work with, what would you choose?

ulano screenprinting emulsion, speedball acrylic ink, and victory factory squeegees

what kind of color palette do you like to work with?

surprisingly, i use a lot of blueish greys much like the brand colors for mamann. in addition, i use a lot primary colors.. i usually try and go bright a lot of times with a touch of neon.

what advice would you give to your younger self?

don't ignore your creative energy,  find a constant and productive way to harness it... to become the person you're meant to be.

what advice would you give to aspiring artists?

choosing to take on the grind of being an artist isn’t easy, but with hard work and dedication, it leads to a unique and rewarding journey.