ArtClass’s Van Alpert on Drifting a Rolls Royce for Post Malone and Building Lasting Brand Partnerships

Not many directors can say that one of their music videos has over one billion views. Van Alpert can. The Miami native, now a director signed with LA production company ArtClass, made a name for himself – and Post Malone – with the video for the artist’s debut single ‘White Iverson,’ a wildly successful project on a shoe-string budget that united his love for cars with his affinity for the “blank canvas” and colours of the desert.

Since then, Van has worked on music videos for the likes of Machine Gun Kelly — winning an MTV Moonman Award for ‘my ex’s best friend’ – and commercials with brands such as Red Bull, Lyft, Babyghost, Apple, and Nike. A multi-faceted artist, he grew up in Miami’s graffiti scene, where he developed his lightning bolt tag — a symbol that remains prominent in his visual art today. Having also lived and worked in Cuba, Madrid, Amsterdam, New York, and now LA, his adaptability and appreciation for a diverse range of influences culminate in his versatile yet distinctive storytelling across various platforms today.

Speaking to LBB’s Ben Conway, Van discusses his career journey so far, learning the craft from legendary director Joe Pytka, and winning Best Documentary at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival for ‘Skategoat’ – his 15-year project following skateboarder Leandre Sanders in a world of gangs and crime in Hawthorne, California.

Head to Little Black Book to read Van Alpert's “The Directors.”