Iconographic

Art + Creative Direction · Contributing Artist

Terry Crews is a modern Renaissance man with accolades in football, entertainment, art, and design. This wallcovering collaboration pays homage to his diverse talents and multifaceted career by recognizing the figures that have inspired him along the way. Handpicked pioneers and changemakers across entertainment, art, architecture, and sports are illustrated by both Terry and Astek’s design team. Playful graphic elements layered atop the graphite drawings create pops of color and unexpected interventions in the portraits. Printed to order in Astek’s production studio, colorful elements such as soccer jerseys, bold sunglasses, and architectural features come alive using Astek’s spot gloss technique, creating extra depth and shine. The result is a wallcovering showcasing artistic prowess, imbued with exciting details and hidden gems.

Winner, 2024 NYCxDesign Awards for Best Contract Wallcovering, Interior Design Magazine

Vibrant digital portrait collage combining illustration, photography, and graphic overlays. Concept moodboard for the Iconographic collection, highlighting stylized character, expressive gestures, and bold color palettes.

Original collection moodboard.

A collaboration between Terry Crews and Astek, Iconographic is a dynamic wallcovering series that pays tribute to the icons who shaped Terry’s life and career. From visual artists and architects to athletes and entertainers, each portrait celebrates the legacy of influential figures through a blend of classical drawing and bold, contemporary graphics.

The collection originated from Terry’s personal vision and grew into a deep creative partnership with Astek’s design team. Many are surprised to learn that Terry is a gifted illustrator. He provided the original drawings for Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Walt Disney, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Astek’s in-house designers created the remaining portraits. Under my creative direction, the final works combine traditional portraiture with vibrant graphic elements. Each portrait includes playful nods to the subject’s legacy, with hidden details that invite discovery and engagement.

To amplify dimension and visual impact, we introduced a custom spot gloss printing technique that brings select graphic elements to life. Features like sunglasses, jerseys, and architectural forms shimmer with depth and texture. Printed to order in Astek’s production studio, each mural is designed to feel personal, dynamic, and richly layered.

The result is a collection that celebrates Terry’s multifaceted identity and the creative legacy of those who inspired him, while showcasing Astek’s design innovation and collaborative spirit. The series concludes with a surprise portrait of Terry himself: a tribute to his creative leadership and the joy he brought to this project.

Take a closer look at the collaborative artistry behind Iconographic, from concept to fruition.

Installation view of the Iconographic wallcovering featuring hand-drawn portraits of iconic public figures in vibrant color, designed in collaboration with Terry Crews and displayed in a modern living space with green and ivory seating.
Graphite portrait sketches by Terry Crews featuring Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Walt Disney, Aretha Franklin, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Albert Einstein, laid out on a work surface during the creation of the Iconographic collection.
Close-up of a hand sketching a realistic pencil portrait of Yayoi Kusama, part of the Iconographic wallcovering development process for the Terry Crews collaboration with Astek
Greyscale mural from the Iconographic collection featuring illustrated portraits of cultural icons, installed in a bright home office with natural light, a wood desk, and a mid-century modern chair.
Artist sketching a pencil portrait of architect I. M. Pei using a printed reference photo. The workspace includes green drawing pencils, a ruler, and other tools, captured during the creation of the Iconographic collection.
Terry Crews smiling and pointing to a portrait of Lucille Ball on the Iconographic wallcovering mural during a tradeshow exhibition, surrounded by illustrated cultural icons
Terry Crews standing in front of the Iconographic wallcovering, smiling with arms crossed, surrounded by illustrated portraits of iconic figures. Photo by Per Bernal.
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