Story
For each of us, Just For Practice has its own respective origin. Inarguably an extension and evolution of artist Jason Kraus’s studio, it is an effort to develop a collaborative practice that genuinely captures what our team finds motivating and interesting amid the popular cultural clutter. That is where the commonality ends. Early iterations of Just For Practice engaged in various projects, from traditional gallery art to documenting the emerging subculture developing as cannabis prohibition came to a close—all with the aim of trying to reconcile and make sense of the various subcultures in which we participate. In our current form, we are a team of artists and strategists, but throughout our journey, we’ve had everyone from cooks who’ve worked in the world’s top kitchens to advisors to leading fashion historians among our ranks.
Just For Practice started as an art practice, and as we evaluate our trajectory, it remains one. While the output of our studio often includes consumables, wearables, and home goods, our core product is our process. Though it is far from unique in 2024, a studio built with the intention of sustaining collaboration through iterative failures has helped define our purpose: a vehicle to understand and interpret the chaos of media, culture, and theory that inform how we each navigate and build identity in the contemporary world.
Us
Formally established in 2023, Just For Practice Studios is the carnal home for our communal work. A natural progression of artist Jason Kraus’s studio, Just For Practice’s work explores how community creates, consumes, criticizes and commodifies subcultural identity and how technology propels these ideas towards an impatient zeitgeist.
The Team
Jason Kraus
Partner / CEOA practicing artist for 20 years, having earned a BA from the California Institute of the Arts and his MFA from Colombia University. Jason has exhibited internationally and taught graduate seminars at Yale University in the Fine Arts department. His gallery and institutional exhibitions have been covered by the NY Times, LA Times and Art Forum. Jason’s work is built on extensive conceptual research into popular culture. As of 2023, Kraus has built his studio into a collaborative project, resulting in the founding of Just For Practice.
KA
Partner / Social Media DirectorBased in New York City, KA is a social media director. Originally from the Bronx, he developed a deep appreciation for the world of content and music at an early age. This passion led him to pursue a degree in Business Administration at Berkeley College, having made the Dean’s list during his tenure. In his solo business endeavors, KA has worked alongside leading CPG brands, professional atheletes and Grammy Award winning musicians.
Michael Dello Russo
Partner / Design DirectorMichael Dello Russo is a talented clothing designer with a passion for music and skateboarding, which has greatly influenced his work in garment manufacturing and design. In 2017, he relocated to Los Angeles to further his education at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Transitioning to freelance design in 2019 allowed michael to expand his skills and expertise. As of 2022 he has embarked on a new phase of his career, focusing on intricate garment design to showcase his dedication to quality and craftsmanship.
Gabe Jacobson
Partner / COOGabe is a product and operations professional with a background in financial services. Gabe graduated from Oberlin College in 2017 with a BA in economics and sociology. Having developed, shipped and managed numerous banking products and their related marketing, Gabe has a deep appreciation for process and user experience. In his spare time, Gabe moonlights as short-form writer, and aims to bring critical rigor to emerging subcultures.