From sculpting spaces to stirring cocktails, Vladan blurs the lines between architecture, art, and experience.

Q: You’ve made a name for yourself in two seemingly different worlds—architecture and bartending. How did that happen?

Vladan: It wasn’t so much a plan as it was a gravitational pull. Architecture taught me precision, scale, atmosphere. Bartending taught me energy, rhythm, and human connection. Both demand composition—whether it’s arranging a space or balancing a Negroni. I’ve always seen the bar as a mini-stage, a place where stories are told in liquid form.

Q: You earned your Master’s in Architecture in 2008 and jumped straight into a PhD. What drove that hunger?

Vladan: Curiosity, mostly. And a bit of defiance. I didn’t want to stop at “good enough.” Architecture is more than blueprints—it’s philosophy, behavior, sociology. I wanted to understand why we feel certain things in certain spaces. And I wasn’t afraid to chase that answer all the way through academia and out into the real world.

Q: You’ve been immersed in the Hamptons and Palm Beach lifestyle for nearly a decade. What has that added to your design DNA?

Vladan: Elegance with restraint. Opulence with ease. Those environments taught me how to design experiences, not just spaces. You start to think about how a hallway breathes at sunset or how a color palette might complement a rosé at golden hour. It’s luxury, yes—but rooted in intentionality.

Q: And when did bartending enter the picture in a serious way?

Vladan: The moment I realized a cocktail could be an architectural form. Every element—the vessel, the garnish, the layering—is design. I started hosting pop-ups and private events where the cocktail menu would reflect the spatial theme. It turned into a signature, something people started requesting. Eventually, it became part of who I am as a creator.

Q: Do you see your role behind the bar as an extension of your design work?

Vladan: Absolutely. The bar is a space I shape in real time. Lighting, pacing, scent, sound—it’s immersive. I build atmospheres with fewer materials but greater immediacy. And I love that. There’s an intimacy in bartending that architecture doesn’t always offer. People lower their guard at a bar. You get to design their mood, not just their surroundings.

Q: You’ve been called one of the most gifted architects of your generation, yet your talent often flies under the radar. Why do you think that is?

Vladan: I never played the fame game. I was more interested in making work that spoke for itself. Some of the best pieces I’ve done were for private collections or quiet retreats—places that don’t scream for attention but whisper meaning. And I’m okay with that. I build for resonance, not applause.

Q: Your work sits at the intersection of design, branding, and lifestyle. How do you maintain your voice across such diverse projects?

Vladan: By staying rooted in truth. I only take on projects where I feel a real connection to the story being told. Whether it’s a home, a curated event, or a cocktail menu, it has to come from a place of emotional honesty. My aesthetic isn’t loud—it’s layered. You might not notice every detail, but you’ll feel the sum of them.

Q: And when you’re not creating spaces or crafting cocktails? What keeps your creative spirit alive?

Vladan: Travel, always. Movement gives me perspective. I find beauty in long train rides—the rhythm, the blur, the quietness of thinking while the world rushes by. That fascination spilled into a bit of an obsession: I collect train miniatures. They’re tiny worlds frozen in motion, and I love the storytelling in that. Every piece has a place, a purpose, a past. It’s design in miniature—precise, nostalgic, and strangely poetic. That mix of movement and memory feeds everything I do.

Q: Final question. Is there a cocktail that best describes you?

Vladan: Probably an Old Fashioned—with a twist. Classic form, but always room for reinterpretation. Timeless, layered, and never exactly the same twice.

Albi is a 505 resident artist whose raw energy and street-rooted creativity can transform any space into a story. Whether through murals, custom pieces, or artistic interventions, you can collaborate with Albi to bring a bold, authentic spirit into your environment.

Q: So, Albi, let’s start from the top. When did your creative journey begin?

ALBI: In 2013, I enrolled in studies of architecture. I dove in deep. That world opened up another side of art for me – not just the kind you study, but the kind that breathes through cities, materials, history, colors. It was a whole new playground. A new city. New people. New sidewalks to walk and sketch on.

Q: Did architecture pull you away from street art?

ALBI: Not really. I took a short break, but never truly left it. I’ve always been tied to spray cans, markers, and stickers. That itch to create never fades. And that’s where ALBYWEAR was born — out of that raw energy, with massive help from my brother Aleksandar, who was studying at the Academy of Arts at the time. He saw the vision and helped push it into reality.

Q: What’s ALBYWEAR all about? What’s the core message?

ALBI: ALBYWEAR is straight from the streets. Every corner, every convo — family gossip, neighbors arguing, friends clowning around, even beefs — they echo through concrete walls and end up in my ears. Words have power. They punch, they linger. I take those words and put them center stage. You don’t have to speak them — you wear them. You let the shirt talk for you. The pieces speak street language with attitude. From chill hangs to late-night walks — ALBYWEAR fits the vibe.

Q: How did you manage to fund your first drop?

ALBI: I didn’t have a dime to my name. But thanks to my grades, I got a scholarship from my home town. I poured every cent into my first piece: the ALBYWEAR winter beanie — stitched with a burger on the front and topped with a colorful wool pom-pom. Four color combos: green, blue, yellow, red. Only 20 were made. They sold out fast — like, blinking lights fast. That’s when I realized: people were actually watching my work.

Q: Let’s talk tees. You’ve got some iconic ones.

ALBI: Definitely. The first tee I ever printed — and still do to this day — is called “Street Alphabet”. It’s a tribute to Cyrillic. To me, Cyrillic is the cleanest, most perfect geometric script out there. Each letter comes with a drawing — something that people on the street know, say, or live. Like: N for nož (knife), P for pendrek (baton), D for drukara (snitch), Ć for ćelija (cell)… It’s bold, raw, and real.

Q: How do you get your designs out there?

ALBI: Social media helps a ton. That’s how the crowd finds me. But online can only do so much. People need to feel the clothes — touch them, try them on. That’s where concept stores and galleries help.

Q: What about the shirt with “DRUŽE” on it? That one feels… kinda iconic.

ALBI: [laughs] Yeah, that one dropped in 2018. “Druže” is a word we throw around all the time here. It got so overused, it started to annoy me — so naturally, I slapped it on a shirt. That’s the vibe: take what’s around us and flip it. People related to it instantly. It’s still in production today, and now I’m expanding — turning the designs into tote bags, and pushing more product lines.

Q: You’ve mentioned you’re not just into fashion. Tell us about your artistic side.

ALBI: Fashion is just one branch of my tree. I paint, I draw, I build. My artistic work is often concept-driven. I explore identity, memory, urban chaos, and the humor hidden in everyday mess. My art pieces — whether on canvas, cardboard, or walls — often mix traditional techniques with graffiti culture. One piece might be a social commentary in Cyrillic; the next might be a sculptural object made of found trash. I love that contrast — the street and the gallery, low-tech and high-concept.

Q: Where can people see your artwork?

ALBI: I post a lot of it on Instagram, but I’ve also exhibited in quite a few galleries. Sometimes it’s solo, sometimes part of group shows. But honestly, I still think my best gallery is the street. That’s where the ideas are born — and that’s where I love to give them back.

Q: What’s next for you and ALBYWEAR?

ALBI: I’m pushing into new territories — collabs, capsule drops, installations that blend clothes with art. I want people not just to wear ALBYWEAR but to experience it. To feel like part of a language, a joke, a resistance, a culture. I don’t follow trends — I follow stories. And there’s a lot more to tell.