Louisiana-born Scott Campbell’s artwork is not only owned by some of the most famous A-listers but it is also permanently inked across their bodies.
"It's strange to hear people talk about my work now in the context of archives and permanent collections. I try to remain as negligent as possible to the weight of expectations that are placed now that it has responsibility beyond someone's arm or leg. Permanence is so often a word used to describe tattoos, because of the commitment that the wearer makes to the idea behind the tattoo. But as an artist working in a wide range of mediums, tattooing is certainly the most ephemeral. It's only responsibility is to address the current emotional situation of the wearer, and it has no aspirations of ever existing in a context other than that person's physical biography. Because tattoos have such an immediate purpose, they often have a lighthearted passion and spontaneity about them. When I first started making works in mediums other than skin, I was definitely a bit discouraged by the judgement that is passed on artwork. The work I put out there was fumbling and awkward, and without a clear purpose. The tattoos I were doing were a product of passion, but then when I made something that I knew I would be held liable for in a gallery context, it became tainted with a self consciousness that made it worthless. I suppose every artist finds their confidence in their own way and time, but the day that I dismissed my desire to accommodate art world academics was the first day that I was happy with my artwork. I’ve been doing tattoos for 13 years, and am still excited by every one of them. Incorporating that same sense of visceral drive that tattoos can have into my artwork of other mediums is the only way I will be happy with my work, and feel honest in what I put out there. If it doesn't excite my own sensibilities, then there's absolutely no point in making it. No thesis or mission statement can compose like intuition can."
Louisiana-born Scott Campbell’s artwork is not only owned by some of the most famous A-listers but it is also permanently inked across their bodies. Since opening the Saved Tattoo shop in Brooklyn in 2004, Campbell has established himself as the go-to tattoo artist, making his mark on Marc Jacobs, Leo Fitzpatrick and Lily Cole – all of whom have subsequently been the focus of Campbell’s portrait collaboration with photographer Terry Richardson. Marc Jacobs – who sports among other designs a Simpsons version of himself, SpongeBob, his pet bull terriers and two renditions of the logo for porn magazine Oui – was such a fan of Campbell’s illustrations that he recruited him to create temporary LV monogram neck tattoos for the Louis Vuitton S/S11 menswear presentation along with customising a series of leather bags with his laser cut patterns.
This week OHWOW LA presents their inaugural exhibition of Scott Campbell's artwork, Noblesse Oblige. The show features Campbell’s signature laser cut and burnt sculptures, intricately crafted out of stacks of US currency, alongside tattoo-inspired art emblazoned on the inside of ostrich eggs.
Scott Campbell is currently featured in Another Man’s New York Portfolio styled by Robbie Spencer and photographer by David Amstrong. Scott Campbell, Noblesse Oblige is on show at OHWOW LA until 22 April.
Text by Lucia Davies
