From today until the end of March 2012, works of the young New York based artist, Scott Campbell will be exposed at Galerie Gmurzynska, Zurich.
One of the most exciting artists working today, Campbell will present an installation of works from the past few years at Galerie Gmurzynska’s Zurich location, “Bless this Mess”. This will be Campbell’s first European solo exhibition.
Bless this mess, 2011
Known for his intricate works in a variety of unusual and exciting mediums Campbell is at the forefront of young artists reintroducing craft and technique to art.
In Zurich, Campbell will present works created in a variety of mediums, including paintings, sculptures and, arguably his best-known works, low reliefs fabricated from uncirculated U.S. currency. In this time of economic turmoil, his works created with laser cut currency have acquired a variety of sentiments and meanings.
Burnt Butterfly, 2010
Included in the exhibition is a group of rare works created during a Mexico City exhibition in 2010. After an argument with the gallery owner Campbell set the already sold artworks he was exhibiting on fire, destroying all but a few of them. Those that survive hold beautiful burns and smoke designs from the action.
Untitled (Black with White Butterfly), 2011
Campbell will debut a new series of works in Zurich, the Fuse Paintings. Completed with designs drawn with gun powder and then lit they continue his artistic exploration into drawings, iconography and cutting edge mediums.
In addition to his artistic career Campbell maintains an active practice as one of the most renowned tattoo artists in the world. His living designs can be seen on Marc Jacobs, Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Nan Goldin, Elizabeth Peyton and Richard Prince among many others.
Campbell was born in 1977 and raised in a Louisiana fishing camp. He studied biochemistry at the University of Texas before moving to San Francisco to pursue his life long passion for drawing pictures. He was able to realize this by becoming a tattoo artist and creating everlasting, movable images on skin. This practice led him to live around the world, including Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles and South America.
Scott Campbell was invited by Marc Jacobs to participate in Louis Vuitton’s artist collaboration series for the men S/S 2011 collection. Past participants have included Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince. He has also recently collaborated with Pirelli, designing a motorcycle, tires and accessories.
In February 2012 Rizzoli will publish a monograph on Campbell, “If You Don’t Belong, Don’t Be Long”, which explores tattooing, art and the human body.
LoL, Sandra
Huge I’ll start my diet tomorrow, 2011
