Sole Junkie Unleashed. February 28th, 2009.

Sole Junkie: The Custom Kicks of Steven Cedré, a new full-color art book, has just been released by Transit Creative. The book focuses on the unique work of the sneaker customizer known as Sole Junkie, exploring the artist’s life and work, taking you from the gritty 1970s Bronx to the slick contemporary art galleries of Los Angeles.

For those not familiar with his work, Sole Junkie custom kicks are born in the true spirit of Hip Hop — building on what’s at hand and turning it into something entirely new. The artist focuses on his Latin heritage and his childhood experiences in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop. Images of Tito Puente, Notorious B.I.G., Pedro Albizu, and Celia Cruz grace his these wearable masterpieces. His kicks have made appearances everywhere from Fortune 500 company boardrooms to concert stages worldwide.

Like many success stories, Sole Junkie’s achievements are a combination of talent, ambition and pure luck. His “lucky” break was a spinal cord injury that incapacitated him for weeks. During his recovery, he received a call from his brother and learned about a new art form taking root in the Bronx—sneaker customizing. With boredom setting in, he decided to give it a shot. Four years later, he’s at the top of his game and has become one of the most popular customizers working today.

The book can be purchased at the Sole Junkie website and the Transit Creative website and retails for $24.95. The book will also available from Amazon and select Barnes & Noble retail stores.