Alan Pastrana’s earliest artistic influences can be traced to his Queens born and bred roots. Coming up in NY in the ’80s and ’90s during the birth of Hip Hop and graffiti art, Alan’s childhood was spent sketching and mimicking the ubiquitous “pieces” adorning the city’s walls. From there Alan was exposed to NYC’s embrace of airbrushed designs on apparel. Inspired by a chance visit to a window display in a SoHo boutique, “Unique Clothing,” featuring live airbrushing, Alan started designing and selling his own airbrushed designs at the young age of 15.
After high school, he attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, majoring in illustration. He received extensive training in life drawing, painting, portraiture work, color theory, composition, anatomy drawing, fine art, and fashion drawing. His academic instruction at F.I.T. influenced his appreciation of many classical and contemporary masters such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Caravaggio, John Singer Sargent, Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta, H.R. Giger, and Alberto Vargas. Indeed, what separates Alan’s airbrush work from his competitors is his ability to implement traditional academic methods into his ever-evolving, fresh, and contemporary work.
It was this commitment to the melding of old and new, of craft and instinct, that attracted the likes of Kanye West in 2015. Alan was commissioned to create Yeezy t-shirt designs, custom airbrushed jackets, and a slew of portraits for merchandising. In 2020 Pastrana was commissioned again to create several works of Biblical art for Mr. West’s own personal collection.
Other notable clients include: SKIMS, Alexander Wang, Spike Lee, Heron Preston, Game Seven Marketing & Productions, GAP, Balenciaga, the NY Mets Major League Organization, the NY Yankees Major League Organization, Ovation Guitars, recording artist Rachel Platten, Peppermint Schnapps, and the Patrón Spirits Company. His work has been featured for SKIMS swimwear and Valentine’s Day fashion campaigns featuring Lana Del Rey, Alexander Wang Crystal Hotfix fashion apparel featuring Paris Hilton, official Spike Lee collaborations with the NY Yankees, Yeezy merch design for Season 3, Donda West and Robert Kardashian tribute tees, and Dove hoodie design collaborations with Yeezy, GAP, and Balenciaga. Pastrana has also been displayed in several magazine publications, including Vogue and Easyriders.
Since 2000 Alan has been the owner and lead artist of Pastrana Unlimited Airbrush Studios in Plainville, Connecticut. Pastrana Unlimited specializes in fine art, creatives for merchandising and fashion, illustration, celebrity portraits, automotive airbrushing, and custom painting. The versatility of his work speaks to his passion for embracing the new, being curious and open to change, while honoring and incorporating the discipline of traditional art. Alan remains passionate about elevating the craft and looks to the future with enthusiasm for what’s to come in this exciting, evolving art form.
Artist Statement
My quest as an artist is to express my truths…
My passion for Art has always been my obsession.
I’ve been blessed with the ability to observe and capture the energy of my environment;
to “see” the gestural flow of the human figure;
to translate the abstractions of both light and shadow, substance and space, while touching your emotions with the right use of color.
Art is my chosen vernacular, life is the perpetual medium, and this is my fascinating, everlasting journey.
