Jonathan Shaw (tattooist)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan D. Shaw is a New York-born tattoo artist and writer, best known for his innovative tribal tattoos in the early nineties and his contributions as founder and managing editor of International Tattoo Art Magazine for several years. He is the son of big band leader, Artie Shaw
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at an early age. During this time Shaw was estranged from his biological father. In his early teen years, Shaw began to abuse drugs and alcohol. His mother Doris became remarried to Shaw's stepfather, producer Leonard B. Kaufman. In his late teen years, Shaw began writing for the Los Angeles Free Press. There he met Charles Bukowski, who became an influence on his writing. At the age of 21, Shaw left Los Angeles for Mexico. After traveling through port towns as a merchant marine, Shaw eventually settled in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where he began tattooing and lived until returning to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.
After returning to Los Angeles, Shaw began tattooing on the Long Beach Pike (aka "The Pike"), apprenticing under American tattooist Bob Shaw.
, Joe Coleman (painter)
, Dee Dee Ramone
, Howie Pyro
, Johnny Winter
, Jim Jarmusch
, and Albert and David Maysles
. In 2001, Shaw sold Fun City and moved back to Rio de Janeiro to focus solely on a writing career.
. He is currently compiling works from his extensive collection of turn-of-the-century tattoo designs for a coffee table art book, soon to be released by a major US publishing house.
on July 1, 2008. The story is a fictional account of a middle-aged "gypsy" named Cigano and his relationship with a prostitute and crack cocaine addict. The evolving work and characters are continued through short stories on Jonathan's blog, Scabvendor.
Shaw's second published book, LOVE SONGS TO THE DEAD, was released by Heartworm Press in October, 2009.
Shaw's third book, a memoir entitled Scab Vendor: Confessions of A Tattoo Artist, is rumored for publication in 2012. In January 2011, Shaw's blog released cover art by R. Crumb, along with excerpts of the book.
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
.
Early life
Born in New York City on July 4, 1953, Shaw moved to Los Angeles, CA with his mother Doris DowlingDoris Dowling
Doris Dowling was an American actress of film, stage and television.After her time as a chorus-girl on Broadway, Detroit-born Doris Dowling followed her elder sister Constance to Hollywood. Her first credited film role was that of Gloria, barfly and drinking companion to fellow alcoholic Ray...
at an early age. During this time Shaw was estranged from his biological father. In his early teen years, Shaw began to abuse drugs and alcohol. His mother Doris became remarried to Shaw's stepfather, producer Leonard B. Kaufman. In his late teen years, Shaw began writing for the Los Angeles Free Press. There he met Charles Bukowski, who became an influence on his writing. At the age of 21, Shaw left Los Angeles for Mexico. After traveling through port towns as a merchant marine, Shaw eventually settled in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil where he began tattooing and lived until returning to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.
After returning to Los Angeles, Shaw began tattooing on the Long Beach Pike (aka "The Pike"), apprenticing under American tattooist Bob Shaw.
Tattoo career
Jonathan spent a short time tattooing in Los Angeles, New Orleans and Miami before returning to his hometown of New York City where he was introduced to tattooist Spider Webb. He worked as a tattooist in Webb’s studio until he opened his own studio on 1st Street and 1st Avenue on New York's Lower East Side.Fun City Tattoo
Shaw worked out of his own studio by appointment only on 1st Avenue and 1st Street until 1991, when he opened the first store-front, public tattoo parlor in New York City, Fun City Tattoo. Located at 94 St. Mark's Place in the East Village, Fun City served clients like Johnny DeppJohnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
, Joe Coleman (painter)
Joe Coleman (painter)
Joe Coleman is an American painter, illustrator and performance artist.-Biography:He was born Joseph Coleman, Jr. in Norwalk, Connecticut to a World War II-veteran father and the daughter of a professional prizefighter.-Work:...
, Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
, Howie Pyro
Howie Pyro
Howie Pyro on 28 June 1960 is a Queens, New York City based rock musician and bass player. He is a founding member of D Generation.-With D Generation:*No Way Out - Single - **Re-released in 1994 and 1996....
, Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch
James R. "Jim" Jarmusch is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
, and Albert and David Maysles
Albert and David Maysles
Albert and David Maysles were a documentary filmmaking team whose cinéma vérité works include Salesman , Gimme Shelter and Grey Gardens . Their 1964 film on The Beatles forms the backbone of the DVD, The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit...
. In 2001, Shaw sold Fun City and moved back to Rio de Janeiro to focus solely on a writing career.
International Tattoo Art Magazine
During the time Jonathan was the owner of Fun City, he became managing editor of International Tattoo Art Magazine. The magazine is self-describe as "the last word on tattoo art from around the world," containing "in-depth historical research, fascinating interviews and exclusive profiles of today's cutting edge artists."Tattoo Flash
After leaving ITA and Fun City, Jonathan continued to devote himself to the edification of tattoo buffs and the art world by curating a number of tattoo flash exhibits, including the historical Psychedelic Solution show in New York and another well-documented event at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles. He has a large collection of rare antique and modern tattoo flash art by many important artists, and his own paintings can be seen in collections and shows with artists like Robert Williams and Joe ColemanJoe Coleman (painter)
Joe Coleman is an American painter, illustrator and performance artist.-Biography:He was born Joseph Coleman, Jr. in Norwalk, Connecticut to a World War II-veteran father and the daughter of a professional prizefighter.-Work:...
. He is currently compiling works from his extensive collection of turn-of-the-century tattoo designs for a coffee table art book, soon to be released by a major US publishing house.
Writing career
Jonathan began working on his first novel, Narcisa Our Lady of Ashes, in July 2007. The novel was released by Heartworm PressHeartworm Press
Heartworm Press is an independent publisher based in Philadelphia. It specializes in limited editions, mainly books by music-related artists.Founded in 2003 by musician Wesley Eisold, Heartworm started out with zines and cassettes, before graduating to fine-art book editions...
on July 1, 2008. The story is a fictional account of a middle-aged "gypsy" named Cigano and his relationship with a prostitute and crack cocaine addict. The evolving work and characters are continued through short stories on Jonathan's blog, Scabvendor.
Shaw's second published book, LOVE SONGS TO THE DEAD, was released by Heartworm Press in October, 2009.
Shaw's third book, a memoir entitled Scab Vendor: Confessions of A Tattoo Artist, is rumored for publication in 2012. In January 2011, Shaw's blog released cover art by R. Crumb, along with excerpts of the book.