Infamous Artworks

A young man with dark hair, wearing a beige button-up shirt, black pants, and black sneakers, is sitting on a covered couch with one leg crossed over the other. He is smiling, with one hand on his head, in a studio or photo shoot setting with a blue tie-dye backdrop and framed photos on a white table in the background.

The Challenge

While studying at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), visual artist Shane Toomey founded Infamous Artworks, a creative brand built around bold expression and independent fashion. For his senior thesis, he envisioned a looping documentary that would elevate his gallery space and deepen viewer connection with his work.

He turned to Cura Studios to bring that vision to life — not just to film, but to co-create a polished, story-driven piece that would stand apart from the standard art school presentation.

Our Solution

We collaborated with Shane from creative development to final delivery. This meant:

  • Storyboarding the concept to reflect Shane’s aesthetic and narrative style

  • Writing compelling interview questions to draw out his voice and values

  • Scheduling and directing a multi-day campus shoot to capture behind-the-scenes, studio process, and environmental visuals

The result was a 10-minute documentary loop that played during his final MCAD gallery show — giving attendees a deeper, cinematic window into the mind of the artist and later gaining broader exposure on YouTube.

Follow-Up Project: The Armory Fashion Show

After the thesis premiere, Shane asked Cura Studios to return for another major milestone — filming and photographing his first live fashion show at The Armory, one of Minneapolis’ most iconic venues.

Our team handled:

  • Cinematic video coverage of the full runway production

  • Branded recap edits for social promotion

  • High-resolution photography of models, designs, and behind-the-scenes moments

This project blended live event production with artistic storytelling, helping position Infamous Artworks as a legitimate emerging fashion brand in the Midwest.

Results

  • A multi-platform artist documentary that lives on as a visual calling card

  • Professionally shot content that Shane now uses in his portfolio, social media, and brand pitches

  • A growing relationship rooted in creative collaboration, trust, and craft

Key Takeaway

Cura Studios became not just a vendor, but a visual storytelling partner for Shane Toomey’s evolving brand. From gallery show to runway, we helped articulate his vision in a way that resonated far beyond the walls of MCAD.

“You helped me see my brand the way I always imagined it — big, bold, and alive.”
— Shane Toomey, Founder of Infamous Artworks

The short documentary can be viewed below.

 
 

Click to enlarge photos

Promotional video for the fashion show can be viewed below