Author | Christiane Nickel
Inspired by digital media and the nostalgia of growing up in New York queer culture, 3PTPOP (Three Point Pop) is an apparel/accessories brand with a particular fascination with poop emojis and gay culture. Using meltable Perler beads, Victor-John Villanueva creates prismatically playful necklaces of bombastic proportions to cultivate a new kind of statement accent. Villanueva’s globular, pixilated confections introduce new ideas of pattern, adornment, jewelry and inevitably queer kitsch culture.
Where are you from? How if at all, has that driven your inspiration?
I am a native New Yorker through and through. I definitely see my point of view as a creator as having been shaped by New York and all that it had to offer as a young, curious, queer person. The Christopher Street Piers, Café con Leche, The Pop Shop, West 8th Street, Soho – just a couple of places that I found myself hanging out growing up. My memories and feelings associated with these places continue to inspire me and inform my artistic production in ways that are so blatant as my choice of subject matter to the manner in which I present my work.
How did you come up with 3PTPOP? What was the initial concept?
Three Point Pop (3PTPOP) was born out of my love of art, fashion, and design and my desire to create things that are whimsical and nostalgic of one’s childhood. My first pieces were beaded necklace portraits of influential artists and personalities such as Leigh Bowery, Grace Jones, Yayoi Kusama, Karl Lagerfeld, amongst others. Utilizing fusible beads, I attempted to re-create the images of these cultural icons in a visual language typically reserved for child-like creations like rainbows and puppies. My concept has since grown and diversified into wall pieces, performance, photography, film, animation, and apparel.
What’s your favorite medium as a designer and which other formats would you like to explore?
Although I have been working with beads for roughly four years, I am still feel compelled to use them. I particularly like the layer of meaning and reference that the medium gives to my subject matter. I would like to explore fashion design since I am interested in further exploring the human body as an element to my creations.
How successful has it been thus far? Are there any particular cities, subcultures and scenes that are all about your work?
I have garnered a following amongst some respected artists and designers and have sold pieces at auctions benefiting organizations such as Live Out Loud, The Human Rights Coalition, Coalition for the Homeless, and The Museum of Art and Design. The queer scene has been very supportive of my work and drag superstars such as Raja and Sharon Needles have been photographed in custom pieces made for them.
Please visit www.3ptpop.com for additional information.
