Christen Mooney, also known as ThugPop, is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural figure whose fearless vision has made him a defining presence in contemporary fashion and art. Celebrated for collaborations with trailblazing designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Lotta Volkova, Shayne Oliver, and Telfar—and as a longtime muse for Hood By Air—Mooney has cemented his place at the intersection of art, fashion, and performance. His unapologetic aesthetic and uncompromising voice have also earned recognition in 10 Magazine and Interview Magazine, reinforcing his reputation as one of the boldest creatives shaping today’s cultural landscape.

After establishing a presence in New York’s fashion scene, Christen Mooney—better known as ThugPop—emerged as a multidisciplinary creative whose practice spans fashion, art, and performance. He first garnered critical attention with his debut tapestry series Cooning For Cash, inspired by the 1970s photography of Bob Mizer’s Athletic Model Guild. The series was acclaimed for its potent exploration of identity, self-acceptance, and the complexities of Black queer masculinity. Mooney’s artistry is both deeply visual and deeply personal—rooted in spiritual iconography, bold aesthetics, and a tactile blend of glitter, bows, textiles, and collages that draw upon cultural heritage and lived experience. His work resonates not only for its aesthetic rigor but also for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Since then, Mooney has become a defining voice in contemporary visual culture. He has collaborated with influential figures and labels including Jean Paul Gaultier, Lotta Volkova, Shayne Oliver, Telfar, and Anonymous Club, and has served as a longtime muse for Hood By Air. His influence extends beyond the visual arts—he is also recognized as a model, stylist, DJ, and musician—renowned for defying conventions and championing marginalized narratives with confidence, flair, and unwavering creativity. With editorial features in 10 Magazine and Interview Magazine, Mooney has solidified his reputation as a visionary artist who continues to push boundaries across multiple mediums.

Christen Mooney from the ‘ThugPop Closet’ collection. Photography by Eli Correia. Courtesy of ThugPop

Glitter, Play, and Defiance: DOLL ON A FARM and YOUR MISAMISA

When Christen Mooney set out to expand his artistry into new digital dimensions, Kristina Vilyams translated his eclectic vision into augmented reality. Together, they created two signature AR try-on experiences, DOLL ON A FARM and YOUR MISAMISA. Each effect was crafted to channel Mooney’s unapologetically bold aesthetic, merging surreal imagery, playfulness, and identity-driven narratives into immersive digital spaces.

DOLL ON A FARM was spotlighted in Lenslist’s Weekly Selection #54 (2021), praised for its inventive use of extended reality and its alignment with Mooney’s genre-defying approach, while YOUR MISAMISA invited audiences into an equally vibrant, interactive encounter that amplified his artistic universe in new ways.

Christen Mooney captures a picture using the YOUR MISAMISA virtual try-on effect