FriendsWithYou
FriendsWithYou Company Bio
Established in 2002 by Miami-based artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III, FriendsWithYou set forth on a mission to spread the idea of Magic, Luck, and Friendship™ around the world, and become Friends-With-You!
Designed as a resource center for all things creative, FriendsWithYou is a unique think-tank that has the ability to seamlessly incorporate their distinct artistic style and one-of-a-kind ideas into a wide range of mediums and applications. FriendsWithYou’s work spans all creative realms from fine art to large-scale experiential installations and interactive events to public playgrounds, directorial work, live performances, animation and multimedia projects, branding and licensing. All FriendsWithYou projects offer once in a lifetime experiences, as FriendsWithYou is in a category of its own as a first class multidisciplinary art collective and creative studio.
Experiential Art
Throughout the last eight years, FriendsWithYou has gained international recognition as pioneers in the field of experiential art. FriendsWithYou experiential installations are fully immersive experiences that draw audiences into a magical world where the line between imagination and reality is blurred. From Pictoplasma in Berlin to Art Basel Miami, FriendsWithYou has been invited to participate in some of the most respected art happenings around the world. FriendsWithYou Fine Art has been exhibited and/or included in the permanent collections of Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), Haus der Kulturen der Welt Museum Berlin, and Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin among others.
Creative Agency
With their unique artistic style and astute technical abilities, FriendsWithYou’s commercial work for hire division, appropriately named FWYstudios, has been sought after to develop the image and identity of some of the world’s most prominent brands, such as Nike, MTV, Red Bull, Target, Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers, Coca-Cola, etc. Their extensive portfolio includes campaign strategy, animation & directorial services, branding, character design, illustration, print design, product design, packaging & POS, online integration, web and new media, etc. With the ability to think and produce on a level larger than life, FriendsWithYou has always over-exceeded the expectations of all of their partners and clients.
IP Development, Branding, and Merchandising
FriendsWithYou’s extensive experience in IP development, branding, and merchandising is inspiring to any creative mind. Whether for commercial clients or internal business development, FriendswithYou’s ability to create compelling and unique worlds complete with endearing characters and rich storylines is comparable to nothing in the market today. Their unprecedented creative genius to develop innovative merchandise lines - from designer toys to apparel, accessories, stationary, furniture and more – continues to further showcase their outstanding ability to create just about anything.
As leaders in developing a new approach that crosses Fine Art, Commercial Work for Hire, and Intellectual Property Brand Development, FriendsWithYou holds a prominent well-respected place in the merging worlds of art and business. In the world of FriendsWithYou lives a never-ending globe of stories and characters, where dreams become reality and all of your wishes come true.
Profiles
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Samuel Borkson
Founder/PartnerSamuel Albert Borkson (aka Sam) is the co-founder and one half of the dynamic duo that makes FriendsWithYou. With a background in fine arts, branding, storytelling and design, Sam and his partner Tury have created a unique universe of Magic, Luck, and Friendship. Their main goal is to create a movement that culturally engineers and spreads simple spirituality into the world through experiential art, entertainment, products, and all facets of the modern consumer lifestyle. Sam’s specialty is dreaming the impossible and relentlessly pushing the bounds of perception to turn these dreams into reality. Sam leads with a giant heart that inspires new friends wherever he goes and after eight years he feels they are just getting started!
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Arturo "Tury" Sandoval
Founder/PartnerArturo Sandoval III (aka Tury) is the co-founder and one half of FriendsWithYou. Tury comes from a background of fine arts and has a wealth of experience in the fields of advertising, branding, and design. His passion and dedication to perfection greatly aid the duo in every endeavor they embark on, consistently creating a result that is pure magic. Fearlessly approaching each task with a practicality that allows for the dream to materialize, Tury is attributed to being the architect in the expansive dreams of FriendsWithYou. The duo’s goal is to culturally engineer a happy movement that will one day change the world and connect all people is dreamed big and brought to life with every project. Tury leads with a shield of love and is an example of a true friend, inspiring everyone who comes in contact with the beautiful creations of FriendsWithYou.
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Maureen Esposito
Chief Operating OfficerA seasoned corporate executive, Maureen brings energy, creativity, and a one of kind out of the box thought process to everything she does. Maureen has excelled in the field of Operations, Logistics, Special Events, Human Resources, Contract Negotiation and the management of daily office operations. As Chief Operations Officer for FriendsWithYou, Maureen works in all fields of fine art, commercial work, licensing, brand development, and special projects. Maureen’s “strictly business” approach to the Magic Luck & Friendship world of FriendsWithYou has proven to be a triumphant balance on all fronts. Maureen’s commitment to build the brand of FriendsWithYou is deeply driven by her respect and belief in the passion of those she is surrounded with daily in the FriendsWithYou team. Maureen joined the FriendsWithYou family in February of 2009.
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Steve Saiz
Lead DesignerWith a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, and a concentration in Illustration, Steve joined the FriendsWithYou family in March of 2010.
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Eva Seta
Public Relations and Project CoordinatorWith a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations, and a minor concentration in Marketing, Eva joined the FriendsWithYou family in January of 2011.
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Erica Gil
Communications & MarketingErica graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising, and a minor in Marketing from Florida International University in 2010, and joined the FriendsWithYou family in January of 2011.