Complexcon Returns for Its 2nd Annual Festival

ComplexCon, the groundbreaking festival and exhibition that brings together pop culture, art, music, food, style, sports, innovation and education returns for the second annual event on November 4-5, 2017, in Long Beach, California—and ‘Collaboration’ is the theme of this year’s epic festival that’s sure to produce powerful enriching experiences.

ComplexCon’s inaugural host committee of Pharrell Williams and Takashi Murakami return and are joined this year by Sarah Andelman, co-founder of the influential Paris concept fashion store Colette, and designer and founder of Off-White, Virgil Abloh. Additional host committee members, performance line-up, programming and activations will be announced in the coming weeks.

“It may sound idyllic, but we know through hard work and alchemy that 1+1 can equal 3. The only way we were able to so successfully execute ComplexCon last year was because of collaboration, which why 2017’s theme is Collaboration. We are asking all participants, from our audience and exhibitors to the performers and host committee, to bring their diverse energy and innovations together to help us emphasize how collaboration contours our lives,” commented Marc Ecko,founder and chief creative & brand officer for Complex Networks. “This will create a deeply rich and meaningful experience that allows the entrepreneurial energy of all participants to flourish, as well as create an amazing learning environment for the next generation that will no doubt reshape our worlds.”

“There’s nothing like ComplexCon; it’s unique for anyone who loves fashion, music and art. The power of ComplexCon is that it erases the lines between all these passions and shows us that everything influences each other,” commented Pharrell.

Remarked Sarah Andelman, “The spirit of Colette, the continual mix and match of modernity, creativity and originality that brings people together, aligns with ComplexCon. I’m looking forward to working with the committee on the event and, of course, attending.”

Created to bring “the Internet to real life,” ComplexCon mixes concert performances, retail pop-up shops, video production studios featuring in-depth panels and conversations, art, food, brand activations, interactive technology and much more into a one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other festival in the world. Launched in 2016 by Complex Networks and ReedPOP, the inaugural two-day event attracted over 35,000 fans, 200 exhibitors, 34 performances and 75 speakers to Long Beach, California.

ComplexCon returns this year with more performances, art, retail, food and the expansion of the host committee, all global leaders and visionaries to lend their help curating the experiences.

 

ComplexCon Host Committee:

World-renowned icon and Renaissance man Pharrell Williams and i am OTHER returns as cultural director and host committee chair of ComplexCon. Pharrell will work both in front and behind the scenes on curation to this one-of-a-kind event.

 

Internationally prolific contemporary artist Takashi Murakami returns to the ComplexCon host committee to once again design the event’s brand identity and lend his oversight to the overall design and aesthetic experience. Murakami’s renowned KaiKai Kiki art production company will curate a space within the Art Zone during ComplexCon and collaborate with artists and gallerists. Over the past year, ComplexCon has deepened its relationship with Murakami, partnering with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for the artist’s upcoming solo show “Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg,” in Chicago from June 6 to September 24, 2017. ComplexCon will host a pop-up gift shop featuring exclusive limited-edition merchandise.

Marc Ecko, founder and chief brand & creative officer of Complex Networks.

Virgil Abloh, architect, creative director, designer and DJ joins ComplexCon’s host committee this year. Established in 2013, Off-White™ defines the grey area between black and white as a color. Under the brand name, seasonal collections of men’s and women’s clothing, objects, furniture and publications articulate a current culture vision. Collections are embedded in a recurrent backstory with an emphasis on creating garments that have an identity by design. With a design studio based in Milan, Italy, the label harnesses the history and craftsmanship within the country yet offers a global perspective in terms of design and trends. With a clear vision of splicing the reality of how clothes are worn and the artistic expression of high-fashion, Abloh explores concepts in the realm of youth culture in the contemporary context.

 Sarah Andelman, co-founder of Colette, the most influential retail experience in Paris, also joins ComplexCon to lend her global view to the festival.

ComplexCon was formed in 2016 as a partnership between Complex Networks and ReedPOP, the producers of New York’s Comic-Con and Agenda.

For more information and to stay up-to-date on the latest visit ComplexCon.com.