By Adam Lauricella
The “pop-up gallery” is a phenomenon that is refreshing yet pragmatic. It’s something doable for artists who may not have the resources to establish a long-standing art gallery yet, still show their work or the work of others. Often times these galleries take shape in empty spaces or open in unsuspecting locations that aren’t in use. The term pop-up gallery is loosely used to describe the event that went down the weekend of January 11-13, 2012 at Kings Avenue Tattoo… (more…)
In honor of Tattoo Age’s Thom deVita episode, VICE is holding an art show and sale at Mike Rubendall’s Kings Ave Tattoo shop in NYC from January 11th-13th. Thom’s one of a kind creative rubbings from tattoo stencils, art boxes, signed books, and more will be available for purchase. The legendary artist himself will also be present to talk about his art and Scott Harrison will be tattooing Saturday and Sunday… (more…)
In the final part of Thom deVita’s Tattoo Age series we have to cover a lot of ground. So please sit back and prepare to go from the days before tattoo artists wore gloves while working to Thom’s current life as an artist. Enjoy. [More info on expanded page] (more…)
In the new episode of the Thom deVita Tattoo Age series we explore the neighborhood in which Thom live and worked, the Lower East Side of Manhattan. We also go into the types of tattoos Thom did, and what it took to talk someone into getting tattoos that were a little out of the norm. [More info on expanded page](more…)
In part three of Thom deVIta’s epic Tattoo Age series, we take look at his personal history and how he came into tattooing. We also hear from tattoo legend Angelo Scotto on the history of tattooing in New York City… [More info on expanded page](more…)
In the second part of the Thom deVita Tattoo Age series we focus on the touching and often hilarious relationship he has with Nick Bubash. Thom and Nick met in the early 1970s and soon after Thom started to tattoo Nick, he also started to teach him how to tattoo. Over the past 40 years their relationship has gone way beyond tattooing, or even art for that matter, but they still continue to create together… [More info on expanded page](more…)
Thom deVita began tattooing in the late 60s in New York’s Lower East Side, when the practice was illegal. He quickly began to forge his own styles, drawing influence from Puebla Indian designs to Lord and Taylor shopping bags. In this episode, we hear from Ed Hardy, photographer Clayton Patterson, Nick Bubash, Scott Harrison, John Wyatt, Angelo Scotto, Bubba Reeves, Robert Ryan, and more, as we unfold Thom deVita’s epic story…. [More info on expanded page](more…)
While we’re waiting for the premiere of Tattoo Age’s Thom DeVita killer episode, we just released some Valerie Vargas Bonus Footage. Vargas takes us to meet the legendary English tattooer Lal Hardy who has been tattooing since 1975 and is generally considered to be one of the people who elevated tattooing in the UK in the 1980s.
The next Tattoo Age series is about Thom deVita. Thom is an artist on many levels, and tattooing is just one of the ways he expresses himself. He began tattooing in New York City in the late 60s, when the practice was illegal. In this episode, which starts on November 21, we will hear from Don Ed Hardy, Nick Bubash, Scott Harrison, John Wyatt, Angelo Scotto, Bubba Reeves, and Robert Ryan, as we try to tell the epic story of Thom deVita, the artist. (more…)
By Adam Lauricella
I woke up Saturday and prepared for work. Grabbed my coffee and went through my other daily rituals then settled in at the tattoo parlor; I realized I wasn’t scheduled to work. I thought I should stay and most likely I’d pick up a few walk ins. Like millions of other people, I looked at my Instagram feed. There was a post from Chris Grosso of Tattoo Age and Vice.com. It simply said, “Come up to Newburgh for Thom deVita’s open studio 11-5.” For those that don’t know; Newburgh is just about 20 minutes from me. I guess I would scrap the walk ins and head over to the open studio. Although Mr. deVita lives in Newburgh I have never reached out to meet with him… (more…)
In Part 3, Mutsuo reflects on the blurry line of legality of tattooing in Japan, along with the prejudice against tattooed individuals that still lingers within society today, where people with tattoos are not welcome in public baths, beaches, pools, etc. He muses on why tattooing makes him happy and provides personal thoughts on spirituality, while bringing us to local temples of his hometown and introducing us to his lovely family. (more…)
In this episode of Tattoo Age we delve into the history of Three Tides Tattoo. We hear from Mutsuo, Chris Garver, and Masa Sakamoto, as they give us insight into how western-style tattooing gained ground in Japan after the 1999 Tokyo Convention. We also hear about all the guest artists who have contributed to making Mutsuo the artist he is today.
The new Tattoo Age features Mutsuo, he has more styles than the first of day school.
This series revolves around an artist named Mutsuo who tattoos at the world-famous Three Tides Tattoo in Osaka, Japan. Mutsuo went from being one of the shop’s first customers to its first apprentice, and now he is considered its most senior tattoo artist. He learned the trade from all the American tattoo masters who visited Three Tides, and got what Chris Garver calls “a 90s-style tattoo education.” Enjoy.
By Mary D and Nick Bubash
DeVita Unauthorized chronicles and benefits a man who was at the root of a massive art and tattoo movement that began on NYC stoops in the 60s. Lovingly authored by student and long time friend Pittsburgh artist Nick Bubash, deVita Unauthorized* is a replication of an original Loose-leaf portfolio made by Nick Bubash between the fall of 2001 and spring of 2003. The original 30 copies were painstakingly assembled by Bubash and was housed in a wooden box measuring 17′ x 22′ x 11/2′. It cover was held on by two wing-nuts and a clivis pin and it was painted and collaged inside and out by deVita and embellished with various wooden and metal objects… (more…)
In the last part of our Valerie Vargas episode, we take a closer look at the tattoo power couple that is Stewart Robson and Valerie Vargas. When we began shooting this piece, we didn’t know how close these wonderfully talented artists were and found ourselves pleasantly surprised by their shared pleasure in tattooing. P.S. Be on the look out for a little Valerie Vargas bonus part coming out later this season. Enjoy.
Second installment of Tattoo Age’s Valerie Vargas piece is now live! We take a closer look at Frith Street, the tattoo parlor where she works, and its owner, Dante DiMassa. Valerie also gives us insight into her development as a tattooer and why London will be her home base for the foreseeable future
Valerie Vargas grew up in Scotland, but has lived and worked in London for the last five years. You can find her at Frith Street Tattoo in SoHo, where she’s known for doing the prettiest “lady heads” in the world. Valerie has only been seriously tattooing since 2007, so she’s proof that talent and hard work will never fail you.
Courtesy of VICE.com: In this season of VICE’s acclaimed show, we travel the world to feature different artists from all ends of the tattoo spectrum, including Valerie Vargas of the UK, Mutsuo of Japan, and Thom deVita of New York City. Each artists’ episodes will include three installments, airing every Wednesday on VICE.COM. First up – Valerie Vargas, whose first installment will air next Wednesday, September 12th.
By John Niederkorn
First off, let me just say that this is not a traditional “review” considering the fact that I’m not an artist… With that said this show was (in my unprofessional opinion) AWESOME! The opening was held on Oct. 28th, 2011 at Tony Fitzpatrick’s Firecat Projects, located quaintly in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, and the only way I can describe the show room is, phenomenal…
The 3 of a Kind art show at Firecat Projects in Chicago will feature the works of Don Ed Hardy, Nick Bubash and folk art/tattoo legend Thom deVita, starting on Oct. 28th and running until Nov. 26th, 2011. Currently, this is all the information we have, but we will update this post when more information is made available.
3 of a Kind Art Show: October 28 – November 26 2011
Opening Reception October 28, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Firecat Projects
2124 N. Damen Ave., Chicago IL 60647
Beer by Three Floyds
Wines by Red and White Wines in Chicago
Every year Tattoo Artist Magazine (TAM) makes the journey half way across the globe to partake in the festivities at the Milano Tattoo Convention. This year TAM has sweetened the deal and brought with it some very rare and collectible tattoo memorabilia that will be for sale at the TAM booth. (more…)
Get a limited, signed edition of TAM 23 from Thom deVita for $60!!! This price includes shipping in the U.S., overseas is $14 extra for the slower USPS shipping method and ALL proceeds go to Thom deVita (not TAM).
Thom will sign your issue AND add some creative ‘censoring’ to the interior of the issue as well. Thom will do these individually as they are ordered, so you must be patient. (more…)
By Adam Lauricella
In honor of Tattoo Age’s Thom deVita episode, VICE is holding an art show and sale at Mike Rubendall’s Kings Ave Tattoo shop in NYC from January 11th-13th. Thom’s one of a kind creative rubbings from tattoo stencils, art boxes, signed books, and more will be available for purchase. The legendary artist himself will also be present to talk about his art and Scott Harrison will be tattooing Saturday and Sunday… (more…)
By Molly and Takahiro “Horitaka” Kitamura 
By Mary D and Nick Bubash
By John Niederkorn
The 3 of a Kind art show at Firecat Projects in Chicago will feature the works of Don Ed Hardy, Nick Bubash and folk art/tattoo legend Thom deVita, starting on Oct. 28th and running until Nov. 26th, 2011. Currently, this is all the information we have, but we will update this post when more information is made available.
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