Asspizza Opens an Art Show
We sat down with the cult designer, born Austin Babbitt, for a candid conversation on his new show with CART Department and the road to contemporary art.
Asspizza, born Austin Babbitt, has a reputation that precedes him. Like any name plucked from the fashion mythology of 2010s SoHo, it’s one that braces you for chaos.
I sit opposite Babbitt at a West Village office in the hours leading up to his new art show, and, to my surprise, catch him in a serene state: putting finishing touches on a canvas, dousing it in loose, free-handed doodles. He bumps soft country music and hums back. Splayed across his all-new art car are thick Steve Jobs and Bruce Lee biographies he’s ready to open once the show wraps, he says.
Next after his 2024 debut with Amanda Bynes, last week the artist-designer unveiled his second exhibition with Larry Warsh’s CART Department at its new space in lower Manhattan. On view through January 28, the show takes over Free Parking with an unmistakable hand. Feverish and acidic, yet quietly controlled. At the center sits a decked-out 1995 BMW 5 Series art car — the same ride used in Ai Weiwei’s 2015 “Lego Car” installation — reworked into an Asspizza artifact made the CART collection.
“My whole life has just been a race to catch up with myself.”
Nearby, hand-painted, chain stitched canvases, and a towering archive of pieces pulled from Babbitt’s personal archive brings his fashion and art practice into clearer conversation: recent 730 Pokémon tees beside the infamous “Pablo” bootleg, early Supreme made for Luka Sabbat and hundreds of garments in between.
“My whole life has just been a race to catch up with myself,” Babbitt tells me. After three years in Tennessee building out his own print factory, 730, he’s made a homecoming back to New York. After a decade of living drop-to-drop, he’s ready to slow things down and lock in on Asspizza, the artist — now older and steadier, yet still shiny with that serendipitous spark.
On the occasion of his new exhibition, we caught up with Babbitt for a candid conversation about his road to contemporary art.
How have you seen yourself grow since your debut show?
When I did that first show in 2024, I had just started making work. I rented a spot on Broadway for a month. It wasn’t a real gallery, but I still sold paintings all by myself.
This year, I want to focus on making more art. Back then, I got distracted because I needed to keep my business alive. Make money, sell clothes and do all this. But I’ve always considered clothes art. It’s just one of my outlets of creating.
In the past you’ve likened your one-of-one pieces to canvases. How long have you been painting?
I’ve always been drawing and just doing random sh*t. I’ve been making canvases since 2013, but didn’t take it seriously until my first show.
Was there a moment you decided to go full throttle on the art, or was it more of a natural next step for you?
It just came naturally. My problem has always been organization and doing things “correctly.” I operate by doing whatever I need to do to push forward. This year I’m focused on thinking smart.
Can you tell me about some of the other cars you’ve painted in the past?
My first car was a BMW I bought in LA. The first car I ever spray painted, though, was my friend’s. I didn’t have a license, and we would just drive them around. I got pulled over a bunch of times, but they always let me go because I sweet talked the police.
It’s all part of the plan.
It is, for real.
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
You’ve been living in Tennessee for the last few years. What motivated the move and what brought you back to New York?
I’m from New York, born and raised. I was doing some side missions in LA for a little bit. I wanted to make a screen print shop out of the back of this music studio with my friend James, who already had a little operation in his garage. It was super expensive and just a process to try and buy the building, so I was like ‘F*ck this. Let’s rent a factory.’
We moved to Tennessee, found a spot, and started 730, which is where I print all my clothes. I was going back and forth between here and there for a while, but to make it work I had to lock in and move to Tennessee. I was there for like three years. We had a good time down there.
I came back to New York because 730 is running itself. Now I have a studio here, and I’m just focusing on creating the things that I’m really passionate about.
With the CART show, it feels fitting to ask how you got your license.
I got it in Tennessee. It was so scary how easy it was. During the test, I ran a red light, but charmed the driving instructor. Under the wrap, there’s a bunch of airbrushed pumpkins and the goblins. It looked crazy. I pulled up in this truck and she immediately got distracted, started talking about how her husband loves Halloween.
How often are you driving your art cars?
All the painted cars in LA, got towed and sold for parts. We don’t have the registration to get them back. I had another pickup truck that I wrapped in an American flag print, which I gave away. I’ve spray painted a lot of cars at meetups, so there’s a few out there by now.
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
“I had to reignite the love for creating because I was stuck in a cycle of needing to drop something to stay alive. I’m past that now.”
What’s just been keeping you excited lately? What do you foresee for yourself this year?
It’s inspiring to remember that I can just make things and have fun. I had to reignite the love for creating because I was stuck in a cycle of needing to drop something to stay alive. I’m past that now.
I want to make clothes I’m proud of. I want to make art I’m proud of. I want to put the work in, and release what I want. That’s what’s keeping me going.
With 730 up and running, what’s it been like having more time and space to work on your art?
I’m trying to stay organized and keep this professional. I’m learning as I go, and I’m practicing in front of the world. No one teaches you this sh*t. I’m really confident in my team, and without them, none of this would be possible. It’s important to find people that’ll play to your strengths.
What’s an outlook that steers your practice today?
I gave up trying to make this work a long time ago, and decided to let God guide me. I can’t explain the coincidences and the amount of stars that have lined up so perfectly for me. When you have pure intent, everything will come together for you. I wasn’t always religious, but this life led me to believe in God.
It sounds like you have a lot of faith in these kismet moments.
The stress and burden of trying to balance all of this and trying to make it work will kill anyone. I’ve already accepted that this could all fail tomorrow, but once you have faith and put your trust in God, you walk confidently, it all comes together. Everything happens for a reason. It’s really insane.
The good, the bad, they’re just not just redirecting you, but —
Protecting you.
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
Courtesy Of The Artist And Cart Department
“Everyone’s been tricked to be mysterious, protect their image and be cool… You need to full send it.
Speaking about fate, how did this collaboration with CART and Larry come about?
Larry’s son Jonah was getting into the history of SoHo fashion. He watched the live stream with Mike the Ruler, Luca and I, and liked it. When we met he told me that I should do a show with his dad. I was down. Him and Larry came to the studio, and we just connected. Now we’re here.
As someone who works in such a grey area between fashion, art and now streaming, what’s your advice for people who want to make a name for themselves in the current cultural landscape?
Everyone’s been tricked to be mysterious, protect their image and be cool. Nowadays, everything is so fast and oversaturated, you have to just try everything and put yourself out there. People are too scared to be judged. You need to full send it because no one’s gonna remember the TikTok you made, they’re going to remember you.
You’re not gonna f*ck with every single drop. You’re not gonna f*ck with every single video, but it’s gonna get you to the level you want to be at. You have to adapt to the times and experiment because if you’re not willing to do that, it’s gonna be a lot harder. There’s no predicting what will hit.
