American Tattoo Art and Ephemeral Body Art, a Subcategory of Representational Art (other): 20-21st Century

American Tattoo Art

and

Ephemeral Body Art

a Subcategory of Representational Art (other): 20-21st Century

Online information from sources other than Resource Library

(above: George Catlin (1796-1872), Eeh-tow-wées-ka-zeet, He Who Has Eyes Behind Him, 1832, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Beyond Ink. Recent Artwork by South Bend and Regional Tattoo Artists is a 2018 exhibit at the South Bend Museum of Art which says: "Beyond Ink hopes to further break down remaining stigmas and stereotypes by show casing the artwork of tattoo artists from South Bend and the region." Accessed 8/18

Beyond the Tattoo? Mark Corliss is a 2018 exhibit at the Cape Cod Museum of Art which says: "Beyond the Tattoo presents the work of Hyannis tattoo artist Mark Corliss that reflects his love of the traditional Japanese design. Beyond the decorative tattoo, Corliss has also used his artistic skills at shading, coloring and adding dimension with ink beneath the skin to create life-like nipples for women who have had mastectomies." Also see artist's website -- To read more after exhibit closes, go to "Past Exhibitions" section of museum website. Accessed 8/18

Ed Hardy: Deeper than Skin is a 2019 exhibit at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco / de Young Museum which says: "The first museum retrospective of renowned tattoo artist and California native Ed Hardy tracks his goal of elevating the tattoo from its subculture status to an important visual art form. The exhibition surveys Hardy's life in art that has as its inspiration both traditional American tattooing and Japan's ukiyo-e era culture." Accessed 1/20

Every Tattoo Tells A Tale: Mark Mahoney & The Shamrock Social Club, an exhibit held at the California Heritage Museum. Accessed December, 2015.

L.A. Skin & Ink as reported by Yo! Venice is a 2012-13 exhibit at the Craft and Folk Art Museum which says: "The exhibition will move through the transformation of tattooing from its traditional base of military and outlaw cultures into an art form of great distinction and adoption into contemporary culture." Accessed 12/21

Lew the Jew and His Circle: Origins of American Tattoo is a 2019 exhibit at the Contemporary Jewish Museum which says: ""Lew the Jew" (1880-1954) was one of the most influential artists tattooing in NYC's Bowery at the beginning of the twenti?eth century. The exhibition includes previously unpublished and rare original tattoo artwork, photos, and correspondence between Lew and San Francisco tattooers "Brooklyn Joe" Lieber and C. J. "Pop" Eddy." Also see press release Audited 4/20

Mark Perrott: Ancient Ink is a 2019 exhibit at the Butler Institute of American Art which says: "In his current series, ANCIENT INK, Perrott turns his camera to the now increasing tribe of highly decorated, aging, and graying baby boomers." Also see artist's website Accessed 12/19

Tattoo - Shamrock Social Club is a 2015 exhibit at the California Heritage Museum which says: "The slogan of the Shamrock Social Club, a tattoo parlor on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, is "A place where the elite and the underworld meet." The store, frequented by members of Los Angeles's famous street gangs, is also the tattoo parlor of preference for many major Hollywood celebrities." Also see website for artist. Accessed 5/20

Tattooed and Tenacious: Inked Women in California's History is a 2019 exhibit at the Grace Hudson Museum which says: "From the working-class Tattooed Ladies who performed in circus sideshows to the upper-class inked women who helped popularize the tattoo craze, visitors to our new traveling exhibit will discover the largely unknown history of California women in the tattoo arts." Also see 6/5/19 article in The Ukiah Daily Journal Accessed 12/19

(above: George Catlin (1796-1872), No Horn on His Head, 1832, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Native American tribes have practiced ephemeral body art for centuries. Warrior face painting, as an example, was common in North America. Paintings by George Catlin recorded this art form as well as countless western genre paintings in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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