SLip is a Lyon-based digital collage artist known for his playful yet thought-provoking approach. Despite often tackling serious subject matter, he skillfully balances the weight of these themes with a pastel color palette, softening the impact of the sometimes dark societal issues he explores.

Sports fans will recognize SLip’s passion for basketball and iconic sports culture in his exhibitions, which highlight the artistry of the NBA and other athletic themes. With over two decades of experience, his work has been showcased in exhibitions, collaborations, and acclaimed artistic publications.

We asked SLip about his art, creative process, and inspirations.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: Femme Phare*

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field, and what drew you to the medium of collage?

I'm SLip, an old French geek who's been making digital collages for over 20 years. I stumbled into graphic design just before the new millennium. I was accompanying my mates who were setting up a music band. They needed to make posters and flyers, and as I was behind a computer, I got down to it. The first results weren't great, but it got me going.

The constraints of being stuck behind the computer all day led me to work on digital collage. This was quickly backed up by the fact that I couldn't do anything with my fingers, and as I delved deeper into the world of collage, I realized that the medium had a whole history that spoke to me, like the work of Soviet collagists from the early 20th century.

Your digital collages have such a distinct style — especially with those pastel colors. How did you develop that aesthetic?

I've always placed a great deal of importance on content and very little on form. As I talked to people, I realized that my work wasn't necessarily readable and understandable. So I tried to work a lot on form. And as I often work on the darker side of today's world, I tried to soften it a little by giving it a pastel aspect that contrasts with the sometimes violent ideas of my subject matter.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: Geometric*

You've got such a playful yet meaningful approach to art — what do you hope people take away from your work when they experience it for the first time?

I'd like the public who see my work to come away with more questions, to be able to question themselves and their ideas. For my part, I try to pose all my questions in a visual way, so as to perplex people.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: Intelligence Artificielle*

How do you approach weaving social commentary into something visually appealing?

The social or societal aspect is the basis of my work. I create in order to express these ideas, which are sometimes obsessively looped in my head. Even if I create for myself in a selfish way, the simple fact of showing my images on my networks leads me to try to make my creations understandable and attractive. This is the main reason why I try to make my compositions aesthetically pleasing.

You've had a couple exhibitions focused on basketball and the NBA, and you're clearly passionate about sports. How do sports influence your work and storytelling?

I've been a sports nut since I was a kid. It's helped me understand fields as diverse as politics and biology. So it seemed only natural to use sport to create my visuals. I've used the world of sport to sprinkle my creations with sporting objects and even sportsmen to tell other stories, other themes, but also to work directly on the world of sport, as in my exhibition Double Double, where I deal with the mythologies I created for myself when I discovered the NBA in the early 90s.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: La Parade*

Can you tell us more about Double Double?

I've been working on the Double Double exhibition since 2018. I wasn't particularly keen on making this exhibition a reality, but prompted by my old friend BEnn., I proposed this exhibition in 2023 and have already produced it 4 times. This exhibition is about my love for the NBA and, above all, the mythology I forged when I first discovered it, before the internet existed.

I've worked on hijacking old paintings to incorporate NBA elements such as jerseys and trophies, to tell the stories that were shared at the time and that have remained anchored in my brain. I now have over 70 works for this exhibition, and my last show was at the Musée de Flers in Normandy.

You've been creating art for over two decades now — how has your artistic voice evolved over the years? Are there certain themes or styles you've grown more drawn to recently?

My style has certainly evolved a little, at least in my increasing mastery of tools. I've also built up a grammar that has gradually enabled me to construct my visual identity. The themes have changed little by little, in line with my personal evolution, but most of them are still linked to social events. I remain dependent on the world around me, from conflicts between states to problems linked to aging or fatherhood, to create.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: Marchandisation*

What's next for you as you look toward 2025? Any new ideas or exhibitions in the works?

I will continue to produce my personal works. I publish them on my insta account at the rate of two a week. It's a visceral need.

I'm looking for new exhibition spaces for Double Double and I still have partnerships to make with magazines and various brands.

*Digital Collage Art by SLip: Pied Dedans*

What else fills your time when you're not creating art?

I'm very busy with my family, especially my two boys. I try to devote some time to sports and I read a lot, even if it's not often great literature :)

I wanted to thank you for allowing me to present my work. Thanks to you and to all the people who will read this interview. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.