Krink is an NYC based ink and marker brand founded by Craig Costello, a self-taught artist from New York City who built his career around graffiti, DIY culture, and pushing artistic boundaries. In the early days, Costello’s signature ‘KR’ tag began popping up across NYC and San Francisco, where he studied and honed his craft by experimenting with his own tools. Nearly 30 years ago, Costello launched his own line of homemade markers and mops that captured the raw energy of graffiti, skate, and punk subcultures. With a strong artistic identity, Craig was able to build a brand that combined his moniker KR with the word INK that catered towards the very subcultures that shaped his art. Krink is known for the signature drips and unconventional tools, such as fire extinguishers, garden sprayers, or even shoe polish bottles, that were born from Costello continuing to redefine how art interacts with everyday objects.
From collaborating with Nike, Vans, and Tiffany & Co. to exhibiting his work in galleries and museums worldwide, Costello’s vision drives Krink and keeps his art at the forefront of urban and contemporary culture.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Craig Costello to explore the inspiration behind the Krink x GEAR Premium® Sidekick collaboration. With two subcultures, graffiti and cannabis, each facing their own restrictions and stereotypes, the project became more than just a product. It’s a celebration of creativity and self-expression, two worlds that have long inspired Costello’s art.
What role does cannabis play in your world?
When I was younger it was always fun to zone out and draw or do stickers and focus on creating. It was also a fun social vibe getting together and drawing with friends.
How do you think restrictions in both graffiti/art and cannabis spaces have affected the output? Do you think it has hindered artists, or do you think things have been created only from the restrictions?
In graffiti, illegality has created constant innovation and creative thinking that’s quite broad; where to paint, how to get to rooftops and tunnels, how to get supplies, what supplies can be used. In some ways it's a hindrance and in others an asset. For some it's a challenge, a problem to solve, but sometimes it also affects the work. For example, more time in a relaxed environment allows for more detailed work. I think there's also a rebellious spirit in a healthy way of questioning authority and norms.
How did you approach this collaboration and the design of the water pipe?
I went with classic Krink drips on blue like a blue mailbox. This goes back to the days of doing drips on the street.
You started Krink yourself and it has now evolved into a worldwide brand; do you ever miss the DIY vibe from the first iteration of Krink markers?
Krink is a small business and studio, the DIY spirit is very much alive and well here. We wear a lot of hats and figure things out on the fly. Creative problem-solving is the norm. There's a lot of experimentation with product concept and development before bringing something to the public.
Are there any other classic items that you find yourself returning to, both for smoking cannabis and Krink?
Recently, I’ve done thousands of stickers! It's a little crazy, but it's fun and goes back to core tagging and graffiti. I’ve been getting more abstract with the tags and having fun.
Did you have a favourite smoking accessory you used to use or make?
When I was a kid, we cut school and got a little nickel bag, and we had nothing to smoke from. People had talked about using an apple in the past, but we didn't have an apple. All we could find was a green pepper, so we made a little pipe out of a green pepper. It was funny teenager-cutting-school type of stuff. I’ve always liked a bong for efficiency and a one-hitter for portability.
What are some of your plans for the future of Krink?
We’ve been making videos which have been fun and interesting, looking through archives and telling stories about past projects or products. I don’t have a lot of experience with video, the process is really new, and I like learning new things.
