I found out about this amazing project at the London Tattoo Convention. Tattooers from around the globe have donated original paintings to be sold on auction, the paintings were on display at the convention and they were all beautiful. The proceeds of the auction will go to the Red Cross Japan relief fund.
Frank Acevedo - Good Times Tattoo
Japan has influenced western tattooing for more than 100 years, with colorful woodblock prints that tell the stories of legend and folklore. And the realistic and bold tattoos of the Japanese masters. As tattooers and tattoo fans, we owe a debt to this mystic land.
The paintings will be auctioned on Ebay.
The auction begins on the 23rd of October and will end on the 30th October.
Not only will you help a worthy cause by bidding, you may well purchase an original piece of tattoo-inspired artwork too…I know which one I’ll be bidding on.
Former POP editor Dasha Zhukova‘s new art and fashion bible, Garage magazine, is set to launch next week. It has already caused controversy over one of the cover images, in which a butterfly is placed provocatively over a lady’s, urm, parts. Zhukova approached several contemporary artists with the brief to design a tattoo, which would then be inked onto a ‘living canvas’.
23-year-old Shauna Taylor agreed to get a butterfly tattoo, from artist Damien Hirst, on her crotch for the feature. Tattoo artist Mo Coppoletta (The Family Business, London) was picked by Hirst himself to ink the green-and-black tattoo. The tattoo took two sessions to complete.
The black-and-white image which appears on the cover of the magazine has a butterfly sticker hiding the tattoo and reads ‘peel slowly and see.’ Inside the magazine is an innovative photo-feature titled: Inked. The subject matter has been making headlines and is considered to be somewhat controversial, it has even been banned from the shelves of UK newsagent WHSmith.
Famous artists including Jeff Koons, Jake and Dinos Chapman, John Baldessari and Paul McCarthy also feature in this project. The spread features a number of ‘willing canvases’, an assortment of men and women and raises questions about the permanency of contemporary art. ‘What are they worth? Something more than the skin on their backs?’ asks Garage’s Becky Poostchi.
The feature, despite causing some controversy, highlights the growing status of tattoos as art objects, finally people are beginning to see that tattoos themselves can be art. Some of the sketches for the tattoos are now the property of the Gagosian Gallery, only proving their status as valuable works of art.
Richard Prince’s signature smiley face was tattooed on Conrad Lochner, a 31-year-old from New York
Terry Bradley has been an art love of mine for a while now. So, imagine my excitement when I found out that a gallery in my hometown, Market Harborough, now stocks an exciting selection of his work.
Terry Bradley’s unique style of urban art is displayed in Croft Wingates picture gallery now.
The gallery has a stunning collection of Terry’s tattoo-inspired masterpieces, so if you happen to be in the area I highly recommend popping in (if you’re lucky John Snape might even give you a coffee).
John Snape, Croft Wingates Gallery Director, is extremely excited about this collection of art and would love to hear from you if you have any questions.
Manhattan ShowgirlsUrban collectionMarket Harborough with an urban twistTerry Bradley in Croft Wingates
Images are available on paper and canvas. Also, a signed skateboard and a leatherette ‘Bradley’ Bag are part of the collection.
art on wheels
I know which one I want…Hope Angel. I just hope no one buys it before I get the chance…
It appears that my favourite Terry Bradley piece, Hope Angel, is someone else’s favourite too…I found this stunning tattoo on his facebook page.
Terry Bradley tattoo - work in progress
I would love a Bradley piece on my wall and my body…
Angelique Houtkamp is the inspirational Dutch tattoo mademoiselle of the contemporary art world.
Angelique brings her own take on the graphic romance of old school tattoos to a fine art format. Her work has been featured in a multitude of magazines, periodicals and books. Her international art shows are a sell out and her tattoo waiting list can be years…
Deceptively simple and instantly recognisable…here is a selection of her beautiful pieces, off and on the body…
“Piaf”, pictured above hanging in the Nelly Duff gallery, is one of my favourite Angelique pieces. I recommend having a browse in the beautiful gallery, situated on London’s infamous Columbia Road, which features many of her pieces.
