Show Opening: Shawn Barber - "Memoir: Tattooed Portrait Series" @ Joshua Liner Gallery, NYC

Shawn Barber opened his latest solo show last night at Joshua Liner Gallery in NYC entitled "Memoir: The Tattooed Portraits Series,” an exhibition of 25 new paintings by the Los Angeles-based artist. The exhibition was presented in conjunction with the limited edition hardcover release of Memoir: The Tattooed Portraits Series book. This is the third volume in Barber’s ongoing series documenting the world and artistry of contemporary tattoo.

Making appearences are portraits of some of the tattoo world’s heaviest hitters with the likes of Grime, Don Ed Hardy, Hannah Atichison and Shige to name but a few. The Shige piece is truly stunning in person taking up three large panels and measuring in at 6-x-9-feet,  Barber’s Portrait of the Japanese artist(2010–12) is a panorama with nine full-length views of the tattooist, rendered in the nude to reveal the majesty of his own bodily canvas.  It’s worth noting that the work is Barber’s largest piece to date.

On the other end of the gallery a large canvas showcasing  James Spencer Briggs at Work on Aaron Wahlman (2011–12) offers its audience a window into the processes, and protocols of a tattoo parlor with its masterful rendering of the tattooists intricate paraphernalia and the clients intense and personal experience.

Shawn Barber - "James Spencer Briggs at Work" Oil on Canvas 2012 48 x 60 in.

The galleries second room offers a wall lined up with a series of small still life’s that isolate the distinctive hardware of specific tattoo artists, such as Daily Driver, Micky Sharpz Liner Machine and Single Needle Shader (2012), these pieces are a window into the personalized and distinctive tools used by the masters that are rarely seen in public. Hanging in the center of the same room is Abstracted Self Portrait (2010–12) which pairs multiple views of Shawn’s arms and other limbs in motion as free-floating examples of contemporary ink, it’s worth noting that the piece showcase’s a brighter pallet from Shawn than I am used to seeing.

Shawn Barber - "Abstracted Self Portrait" Oil on Canvas 2012 36 x 68 in.

Other works include an intimate moment captured in time between tattooist  Jason Kundell and his daughter Lula, a head study of fellow painter and tattooist Henry Lewis and both a macro and mico take on Freddy Corbin’s “temple.”

Shawn’s latest, beautifully put together book was also up for grabs, it displays the current exhibition in full and pretty much every other major work from the artist since his last publication was released.  A loving forward by actress/comedian Margaret Cho and and NeedlesandSins.com blogger, Marisa Kakoulas, who provides the volume’s introduction, serve as a great opening to this limited, signed and numbered (edition of 100,) hardcover coffee table book.

Shawn Barber - "Memoir: The Tattooed Portraits Series" Hardcover Book, 2012.

Those who attended the opening were treated to a very friendly and open Barber who was only too happy to pose for pictures and discuss the work with his many fans… and with the theme of the works being tattoos you know the crowed themselves were walking canvas all worth admiring in their own right!

Memoir: The Tattooed Portraits Series will be on display till July 28th, make sure you brave the summer heat and make it down to the gallery in the next month for some truly inspirational work.

Shawn Barber - "Memoir: Tattooed Portrait Series" @ Joshua Liner Gallery, NYC - slide show

Preview: Shawn Barber @ Joshua Liner Gallery, NYC

Shawn barber – “Hannah Aitchison Hands Study 1”  2012, (oil on panel) 24" x 18"

Shawn Barber is gearing up for his next solo show at JoshuaLiner Gallery in NYC, "Memoir: The Tattooed Portraits Series,” and we have some video footage and photography to share with you before the June 28th opening. I’m a big fan of Shawn’s tattoo portraits and am always excited when a new collection of work is readying to launch. I was lucky enough to get an early preview some months back on the then almost completed paintings that feature some of the tattoo worlds biggest and most loved figures. With new portraits of legends like Ed Hardy to cult hero’s like Grime and one time tv personality, Hanna Aitchison, there is no shortage of breath taking oil work to be had. Barber also went very big with this show featuring some of the painters’ largest pieces to date. Check out the video below (beats provided by Aesop Rock) and make sure to pass by the gallery once the show opens to see the real thing if you live in or are around the NYC area. 

Video: Henry Lewis & Lango Oliveira –“ Neon Knights”

Renowned tattoo artists, Lango Oliveira and Henry Lewis from San Francisco ink studio, Skull & Sword, have created an epic and powerful body of work for their latest exhibition, "Neon Knights", which opened to a packed house of wowed viewers on March 2nd at 111 Minna Gallery. There are still some of their works available so drop by the gallery or view the work in the art shop before it’s all gone by weeks end. Oh and check the great promotional video below...

Go Buy This: Scott Campbell - “If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long” (Signed)

Brooklyn tattoo and fine artist Scott Campbell is releasing his first book via Rizzoli next Tuesday February 14th entitled “If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long”.  For those who are big fans of the artists work there is a special being offered for a limited time via OHWOW that is pretty exciting. For $100 you will get a signed edition of the book with some personalized sketches included. Looking at the examples below Scott goes far beyond the usual doodle that many artists offer up in similar deals giving you an original piece of art when it’s all said and done.

  “Adored by his patrons and admired by his peers, Scott Campbell is known not only for his amazing technique and vision as a tattoo artist, but also as a respected fine artist on the contemporary scene. Both Campbell's artwork and tattoo work are informed by timeless trends of "new antiquarian" style, nineteenth-century hand-lettering, kitsch, and classic tattoo flash.”

“Campbell renders fleeting trends into timeless masterpieces not only on canvas and in sculpture, but also on skin. This book captures both, exemplifying how his tattoo work informs his artwork and vice versa. “

Hardcover, 8.5 x 11.75 inches, 208 pages, fully illustrated.

To purchase the signed book click HERE.
For those who don't have the extra cash to spend you can purchase a retail copy HERE.

Video: “Skin” A Film by Ryan Hope

In March 2011, a group of people volunteered to be part of a contemporary art project. The project would involve some of the biggest names in the art world and would ask serious questions about what, exactly, constitutes art?  Directed by Ryan Hope, Skin is an examination of tattoo culture as high art and a film that tests the boundaries of the medium and the human body. The film features contributions from notable artists such as Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Raymond Pettibon, in association with Dasha Zhukova’s Garage Magazine. Now thanks to Christie’s and W Hotels the entire 40 minuet artistic endeavor can be viewed online.

Skin from Stamp on Vimeo.

Video: Freddy Corbin Profile for Tattoo Age

This month’s Tattoo Age focuses on artist Freddy Corbin. In the first installment of the series we get familiar with Freddy's tattoos as well as see his two Oakland tattoo parlors, Temple and Tattoo 13. Freddy's style is further explained by his right hand man and fellow tattooer, Jason Mcafee. We also got a chance to speak with another Oakland legend, pro skater and chopper guy, Max Schaaf, about understanding Mr. Corbin's coolness.

Freddy has a long history in tattooing. Having worked with people like Dan Higgs and Ed Hardy early on in his career, Freddy has witnessed and made some important tattooing throughout his career. The second episode also has some great archival, courtesy of Michael O. Stearns, from some tattoo documentaries in the early 90's.



In the third and final part of the series and what might be the most personal of all the Tattoo Age episodes, Freddy talks about his family, the birth of his son, and what it took to get him clean from drugs. Freddy also opens up about an epic trip to India to tattoo the people of Varanasi for free on the banks of the Ganges River.

Video: Troy Denning Profile for Tattoo Age - Part 3

We got part 3 of Vice and New Era’s fantastic Tattoo Age series highlighting tattoo artist and head honcho of Invisible NYC, Troy Denning.  In the third and final chapter of this profile we explore the Invisible NYC crews love of leisure time activities, and the special bond that fellow tattoo artist Kiku and Troy have…

Video: Troy Denning Profile for Tattoo Age - Part 2

We got part 2 of Vice and New Era’s fantastic Tattoo Age series highlighting tattoo artist and head honcho of Invisible NYC, Troy Denning.  Part 2 of this profile showcases Troy’s knowledge of history and culture as the piece opens up with a humorous clip of Troy taking part in an episode of Cashcab, he cleans up. Troy also talks about how he got his start in tattooing the influence of Aaron Cain, working at Everlasting Tattoo and the inevitable mistakes one makes when first getting into the business, enjoy….

Video: Scott Campbell – "All That’s Gold Does Not Glitter"

Italian film maker Alessandro Zuek Simonetti presents ‘All That’s Gold Does Not Glitter’, a video on Brooklyn artist Scott Campbell.

“During the Karl Lagerfeld Pirelli calendar launch in Moscow, Renato Montagner, Creative Director of Pirelli P Zero, commissioned artist Scott Campbell to create two signature projects. To engrave a Pirelli tire and to design a special edition P Zero bike jacket by Dainese. In the summer of 2011, Campbell began working on these pieces in his Brooklyn studio in New York.”

All That's Gold Does Not Glitter from Alessandro Simonetti on Vimeo.

Video: Troy Denning Profile for Tattoo Age

A new installment of Vice and New Era’s fantastic Tattoo Age series continues to impress with the latest highlighting tattoo artist and head honcho of Invisible NYC, Troy Denning.  Part 1 of this profile  showcases Troy’s Japanese inspired tattoo work and takes a peak into the man’s personality via interviews from friends and colleagues including Chris O’Donnell, Kiku, Jeb Maykut and Damian Rodriguez, enjoy….

Video: Scott Campbell Prison Tattoo

Here is a sweet short directed by Casey Neistat of tattoo/contemporary artist Scott Campbell doing a tattoo on a friend with makeshift gun, aka prison style in Tompkins Square Park in NYC. Scott briefly discusses what tattooing means to him, his entry into fine art and the logistics of creating a prison style tattoo on the fly, it’s a fun video of the master at work.

Video: Grime Profile for Tattoo Age Part 3

The third installment of Vice and New Era’s Tattoo Age series continues to highlight tattoo artist Grime. In a more personal context, this episode looks into Grime’s idea of publishing his books that features personal art and journal writings. Moreover, fellow artists like CIV, Chris O’Donnell, Henry Lewis and Yutaro Sakai also talk about his signature Japanese-inspired works, authentic fiery eyeball graphics and his influence to the tattoo world. Enjoy the video and be sure to check out the first two parts of this fantastic series.

Video: Grime Profile for Tattoo Age

Check out these two fantastic videos on the work of tattoo and fine artist, Grime. In the first video the San Francisco-based artist provides insights about his work ethic, his history, and how he actually applies ink to the skin. In part 2 Grime shows his collection of skateboard decks and talks about his early influences and the tattoo work he has gotten done, this guys work is sick.

Artist-Inspired Tattoos

A Jeremy Fish inspired tattoo

Tattoo's are becoming part of mainstream culture more and more these days, you might have one yourself or know someone who does. Living in NYC I see my fair share on a daily basis but some of my favorites are those inspired by the Contemporary Art scene so I decided to compile some stand outs featuring the art work of some of the leading artists involved with graffiti, street art, graphic design and more including Aaron Horkey, Alex Pardee, Craola, Miss Van, Sylvia Ji, Sam Flores, Derek Hess, Kostas Seremetis, Tara McPherson, Kaws and more.

 Enjoy the 100+ slide show below...

Art Tattoos June 29 2011 - slide show

NY Ink

With NY Ink making it's premiere on TLC tonight there is a new video making the rounds showcasing the artists and their new space.  Earlier this year my friends at Arrested Motion were tapped to help curate the inaugural season of the show. Artwork from artists such as Shepard Fairey, Audrey Kawasaki, Ian Francis, Antony Micallef, Dan Witz, Sylvia Ji and more can be seen lining the walls of the set, take a peek in the clip below...