Which artist’s work inspired Supreme’s red box logo?

Supreme’s red box logo was inspired by the work of American artist Barbara Kruger.

The logo uses white Futura Heavy Oblique lettering inside a red rectangle, a design strongly associated with Kruger’s text-based art. Kruger became known for combining bold typography with images and presenting pointed cultural or political messages in a highly recognizable graphic style.

Supreme launched in New York City in 1994, and the box logo became one of the most recognizable marks in streetwear. Its visual simplicity helped the logo work on T-shirts, hoodies, skateboards and accessories while remaining instantly identifiable.

The logo is often described as being “copied” from Kruger, but the more precise description is that it was directly inspired by her visual language. Kruger was not the founder of Supreme, and the brand’s logo should not be confused with the artist’s own signed works or exhibition graphics.