A Gutierrez is a Los Angeles born and based artist/designer and founder of King of Sneakers Custom Footwear Inc. As the King of Sneakers,
King Kang has merged fine art and hip hop culture into one of a kind custom painted sneakers. Her passion for hip-hop and fashion developed as it
did for many who grew up surrounded by the unique and stylish urban sub-culture of Los Angeles in the 1980s. The
first pair of Air Force Ones began
the love affair with sneakers and since then, studied interior design and fine art. After college, King Kang
went on to a successful career as a corporate environment designer and as a mix media assemblage artist. Her multifaceted skills translate into her
work with KOS where she has incorporated her professional work ethic to diversify the projects that the company takes on and her art in the creation of
her unique works of walking art. The first time King painted on a pair of Air Force Ones happened in the late nineties. My brother challenged me to paint on a pair of sneakers the way
that she painted on canvas. At that time hip-hop artist were sporting custom air brushed gear and the kids who were fans wanted to do the same. When
King finally agreed, a pair with The Simpson’s characters painted on them. Those sneakers got so much attention that she began to
customize sneakers for friends and family as a hobby. Within a couple of months of customizing the first pair of sneakers, King Kang had a list of people
asking for work and offering to pay for it. At that moment king kang realized that this hobby could become a profitable business that would combine her
love for art and sneakers. was created in June 1998 with the goal of taking art into the street as a fashion statement. Instead of being in a
gallery, it would be moving art that could be enjoyed and accessed by everyone. From the beginning, Kign Kang has strived to set KOS apart through the
detail, intricacy and quality of the work that goes into every pair of hand painted sneakers. As word of her work spread, and she was contacted by
Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas who wanted to purchase a pair of her “Obama Change” sneakers to wear at The MTV Music awards. Since then,
celebrities such as Wyclef Jean, Bun B, Bishop Lamont, Pete Rock, Too Short and Scarface as well as many underground artists have all purchased
sneakers from the King of Sneakers. Today, KOS has customized sneakers with everything from portraits to corporate products and has been featured
on Good Morning America, The Wendy Williams Show, and on KIIS FM Morning with Ryan Seacrest. KOS designs are also featured on the latest Black
Eyed Peas video “ Just Can’t Get Enough”.