He rose to international fame in the art world in the late aughts as one of dealer Jeffrey Deitch’s stars, but these days, Rolón, also known as Dzine, is focused on his home turf. The 45-year-old Chicago native was recently commissioned by Tiffany & Co. to create a piece (pictured below) that will be auctioned off at the MCA on October 23 to help fund the museum’s Teen Creative Agency, a free arts-administration curriculum for high school students. The work incorporates patterns from Tiffany diamond cuts into two of Rolón’s signature motifs—mirror mosaics and elaborate fence patterns (both inspired by childhood trips to Puerto Rico). Rolón’s affinity for art and artifacts is evident in the Humboldt Park home he shares with his wife, Casey Gabel, a stay-at-home mom; their two children, Paolo and Mila; and two dogs. Here are some of his favorite things.
Vintage dining chairs
“The color is completely unique.”
His children’s art
“I have collected my kids’ artwork since they could first scribble.”
Tiffany-commissioned multimedia panel
“A new language for my studio practice, and a marriage of the security fences and mirror mosaics I’ve been doing.”
Scoop NYC cashmere hoodie
($358 for similar style, 1009 N. Rush St.)
“It’s comfy-cozy: That’s my MO.”
D.S. & Durga limited-edition cologne
($150 for similar item, dsanddurga.com)
“Hand-mixed and very unisex.”
Tiffany 18-karat rose gold watch
($12,000, 730 N. Michigan Ave.)
“I am completely attracted to the rose gold.”
Vintage boom box
“Much cleaner, louder, and more impressive than anything current I have.”
Guerra Paint & Pigment crystalline paint
($73 for a pound, guerrapaint.com)
“From a boutique paint shop where everything is handmade. I’ve named paintings after this paint.”
Tom Ford leather sneakers
($1,090, 66 E. Oak St.)
“Since I’m a visual artist, the color immediately did it for me.”
Toulouse-Lautrec original print
“When Casey and I started dating, I was struck by the fact that she had a Lautrec piece.”
Crime Pays by Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe
($16, amazon.com)
“Lavoe is one of the greatest salsa singers of all time.”