My Story
My name is Robert Augustus Scott. Owner and creator of RobScottCreates.com and Blackknowledgewear.com. I was born on July 21, 1964, in Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of 6, my parents move us to The Bronx in New York City.
As the youngest of ten children, I was constantly challenged. The strain of vying for attention and approval manifested itself as aggressive, pent-up energy, eventually corrected. Interpreted as an uncontrollable rebellion by age 12, my parents send me away to a "Group Home" (upstate New York).
My five-year stint in this new and strictly controlled environment forced me to re-channel my restlessness and taught myself to sketch and draw. My newfound expression on my terms gave me pride in myself and the confidence and direction that I had never known. In those years upstate, I also developed a deep love for music - in every music genre.
Age 17 was a crucial time for me. They sent me to another "Group Home" in Queens, where I attended John Bowne High School in Flushing—allowing me to begin nourishing my love for music and start my DJing journey by observing the goings-on in many clubs and venues. I would also further my artistic skills by sketch anything and anyone who caught my interest.
In the summer of 1983, upon my graduation from high school, I joined the U.S. Army. While stationed in Germany, I began acquiring bookings as a D.J., sharing and interpreting the music I loved in popular clubs and venues. A passion and vocation that I continue to enjoy to this day.
After serving seven years in the Army, I decided to formalize my drawing skills and attended The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. As a Fine Arts department student, I studied Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, and various other art forms and earned an Associate Degree in Fine Arts. While at F.I.T., I was exposed to and interested in the schools' program of "Restoration." After learning about wood restoration, ceramic restoration, and metal restoration, I received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree.
A friend at F.I.T. introduced me to screen printing. As a member of the student council, I was giving the opportunity to practice; and perfected the art of screen printing. In 1990, I began to create T-shirts, an activity and an interest that coexisted with my long-time participation in the New York City Roller-Skating scene. I have been a skater since age 12. Realizing a desire among skaters for Roller Skating themed T-Shirts, I started a business to satisfy that growing market. I initially called my company "Skate Tees." My premiere T-Shirt, "New York City Original Rollers," was a sell-out and has maintained a classic/cult status among skaters domestically and internationally to this day.
As demand for my T-shirts increased, I decided to rebrand my business as "Roller Culture" in 1991 and continued to successfully design and screenprint skating T-Shirts in bulk. By the year 2000, I had created and printed thousands of shirts in the New York City roller skating scene. At the same time, I began to D.J. at some of the locate skating rinks, Skate Key, Roxy, and Empire Rollerdrome. With the beginning of the new millennium and new technology, I decided I also needed a new beginning and started producing T-shirts under my present label, "Original Rollers'. After my 25th anniversary in 2016, I launched a couple of new T-shirt lines with nothing to do with skating. It includes a run titled "Musical Notes" featuring famous artists' imprints; on the front, the artist's face with a quotable quote by that artist on the back. Another line created is called Throwbacks, which featured blow-ups of old-school vinyl record labels on the shirt's front.
In addition to my other works of art, I continue utilizing my skills in wood restoration. I work consistently as an Independent Contractor restoring the wooden interior of brownstones in Brooklyn and Harlem. I have also worked over the past 20 years with my old F.I.T. restoration Professor Eli Rios at his Long Island City studio ECR ANTIQUE Restoration. I repair and restore high-end period furniture to its original condition.
I have now consolidated all of my ventures and brands under one umbrella: "ROB SCOTT CREATES(RobScottCreates.com)."
Here you will find my continued love for Skating (Original Rollers), my passion for black culture (Black Knowledge Wear), my love for creating art (Rob Scott Art), My love for the Old School Classic (Throwbacks), and many more.
I strive to continue my artistic visions as a multi-talented artist well into the new millennium!
