King Saladeen
Born and raised in West Philly, King Saladeen is a world-renowned, entirely self-taught artist known for his mastery of vibrant colors and abstract contemporary art. His work spans from murals, airport installations, and fine art to vinyl toys, apparel, and custom-painted luxury cars. Today, he is most notably recognized for his iconic “Money Bear”
His work began to attract the attention of the art world in 2013 and by 2014 he had his first solo shows in LA and Miami. Since then he has worked beside some of today’s most iconic contemporary artists including Ron English, Futura, Mad Steez, Seventh Letter, Rob Prior, Mr. Brainwash, and Karen Bystedt. His work has been exhibited at the NYSE, the Philadelphia International Airport, Neiman Marcus, São Paulo Museum of Art, ComplexCon, Shenzhen Toyz Festival, and more. He also recently released two pairs of custom sneakers with Diadora. He is also an avid philanthropist and spends a great deal of time giving back to the community that helped raise him.
Saladeen openly credits his success as an artist to his late best friend, JP, who pushed him to pursue his passion and insisted that with teamwork, a little bit of faith, and the support of your family, anything is possible.
Over the course of his career, King Saladeen has evolved into a tremendously talented contemporary fine art visionary. Moving beyond his early work, today he focuses on representative works that bring his experiences and aspirations to life.
His work has been exhibited at Philips Art Auction, Scope Art Fair in New York and Miami, Art Miami Fair, Hamptons Art Fair, Beyond the Streets Art Fair, and more..
King Saladeen’s passion for the arts began at a very young age but it wasn't until his late best friend, John “JP” Thomas, encouraged him to go after his dreams, that he actually embraced his obsession for creating and found purpose in his art. JP insisted that with teamwork and a little bit of faith, anything was possible and pushed Saladeen to not just pursue his passion but to create a trademark character that would stand for something bigger. And so, JP the Money Bear was born. JP the Money Bear is not a toy, he exists as a reminder to dream big, love what you do, and surround yourself with people who see you, encourage you, and motivate you to be great. Here are a list of collectibles that have been released
As King Saladeen emerged as one of today’s most sought-after contemporary artists, he’s had the opportunity to partner with some of the biggest and most iconic brands around. His partnerships range from collaborating with the MLB, NBA, and NFL to Neiman Marcus, Lexus, and Netflix - among many others.
Sports and Influence
King Saladeen’s art has a global influence amongst a variety of diverse communities.
His vision is to create art and outlets through his art that allows people from all backgrounds to become apart of the art ecosystem.
His collaborations in the sports industry have been truly monumental and life changing. Through these collaborations, he’s created more accessible and inclusive ways for people to become art collectors. From baseball cards to bobble heads to video games, King Saladeen’s art became a staple in sports culture.
