Shawn Barber’s latest solo show, “Tattooed Portraits: Snapshots,” (setup) opened up last weekend at San Francisco’s Shooting Gallery. Featuring a full body of fresh work, Shawn’s use of modern tattooed subjects (who range from Modern Body Art’s Jo Harrison and Blackheart’s Scott Sylvia and Jeff Rassier to MMA fighter/Seventh Son Tattoo’s Luke Stewart and comedian Margaret Cho) translates very well, showing a softer and sometimes even contemplative side of a culture often perceived in precisely the opposite light. The representation of a “lowbrow” art through a more “fine art” medium exonerates his subjects who are often times admired, though rarely respected by the institutional aspect of the art world. Full show and detail pics after the jump.
Words/Pictures by AM/SF: Ken Harman
