If you're an '80s baby, then you remember Swatch watches . . . or at least Parker Lewis' trademark line, "Gentlemen, synchronize Swatches!" Now, the iconic Swiss watch brand have teamed up artists like Billy the Artist to take synchronization to a new level with their CreArt collection. StreetLevel recently caught up with Billy to talk Swatches, art and riding dirty in Barcelona.

Read more after the jump.

How did you get involved with Swatch and the CreArt collection?

I always thought I would be a good match with Swatch. I love Swatch watches and I thought the vibe of my work was the right kind of vibe. I told my manager years ago that we should try and contact Swatch – I remember the Andy Warhols, the Keith Harings, Kenny Sharps. So, we contacted them years ago and they knew who I was, which was cool, and they said that if they did another artist series that they would put me on a short list of artists to consider. So, about two years ago, two of the head guys from Swatch came to my studio in New York to meet me. When you step into my studio, you definitely step into my world. The ceilings are painted with murals, the speakers are painted and it's just really a fun vibe. They looked around and a minute later they were talking in Swiss-French and they looked at me and said, "This is exactly what we're looking for for two years." So, they put together the CreArt thing and they wanted me to be the world representative and here we are today.

What were your inspirations for the Morning Glow and AfterDark watch designs?

I knew I was going to do two watches. So, I wanted to make them as a pair – that they could work individually or they could work as a pair – and I wanted to put my iconic images, which are the eyes and the faces. The idea for Morning Glow, the colored watch, was to be a day watch. It's very colorful, very bright. Whereas AfterDark, the black and white watch, the sun goes down and you go to a club, you go to dinner or you go to have some cocktails – then that's the watch you wear. I wanted to make it a little more urban, sleek, hip kind of watch. They are also very iconic of my work because I do both color and black and white. I wanted a full representation about what I am about as well as a day and a night watch.

You mentioned that Swatch has this great tradition of working with pop artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. How does it feel to now be a part of that?

Dude, it's beyond humbling. It's probably one of the most exciting projects I have worked on. To be in the same company as some of these other great pop artists is overwhelming. I couldn't be more proud and happy to be a part of it.

Are those some of the artists that have influenced your work?

People have often said if Picasso, Peter Max and Keith Haring all got together, had some drinks and got a little loopy, they would have my artwork. Those dudes are huge inspirations of mine. Picasso has been my biggest influence because his life and his art were one in the same. He was this larger than life character that celebrated life and celebrated his art. He lived life to its fullest and that's definitely how I live my life.

Is this project the first collaboration you have done?

I haven't done a fashion project like this before but I have tons of t-shirt designs. I have also painted cars for Hyundai, Suzuki, Ducati motorcycles, Gibson guitars – I even painted some port-a-potties here in New York for a public art project. I have painted on some pretty crazy things, but the Swatch thing is definitely one of the greatest. To be able to paint in front of 30,000 people to the music of the Young Gods live at the world launch in Venice and seeing the projections of my artwork on those ancient walls . . . This whole thing has been an unbelievable trip.


You are also doing a live event in Times Square. Tell us about that.

It's going to be great because New York is my home. My inspiration comes from the energy and people of New York. In fact, I got my start painting murals on the ceilings for the musical Rent, which was just a few blocks down [from Swatch's Times Square location], so going from the ceilings of the Nederlander Theatre to having my own billboard in Times Square is pretty trippy. I am going to paint a giant mural on the store windows and then we will also be painting a canvas with Rock of Ages star Constantine Maroulis to donate to Equity Fights Aids. People who buy the watches will also get autographs and a little design on the box, so it will be fun.


Now, are you a big watch guy?

I not a huge collector of watches, but my first watch that I ever had was a Swatch watch. In fact, most of the watches that I have had are Swatch watches. The first watch my dad got me was this really cool blueish black Swatch watch – it was probably the first year Swatches came out. And I thought it was the coolest thing ever because it didn't have any numbers.

You describe your style as "urban primitive"? What does that mean?

I actually call it "urban primitive pop." It has a very urban feel because, like I said, I get my inspiration from the city and from New York. So, it has an urban edge to it. Primitive I use because its black and white and it has an Aztec/primitive way and it's in the pop world, so you put those all together and I figured "urban primitive pop" was the best way to describe it.

What's next for you?

I have a line of Vespas coming out in Spain in the fall, so people will be riding around Barcelona and other places with my designs on their Vespas. I might be working on some festivals and concerts. I also have an art show coming up. And I will still be doing the Swatch thing. I am keeping busy.