ink session: final part

yesterday i’ve had my last ink session at xxxtattoo studio in lucerne. catching the train with the latest monster skateboard mag and then straight to soeren. after five session of pain he finished the artwork on my right arm, waves, stars and many cherryblossoms…finally done!
thanks mate for your great piece of work!

check rob koss and soeren’s xxxtattoo.com

refill seven returns

One of my favourite projects of recent times, is Refill Seven, the laser skate deck project which includes decks designed by some of the biggest names in street art and streetwear, the project has returned with the decks available for sale again online at Refill Seven. Orders placed are filled within 28 days of order, definately worth checking out, a great oppurtunity to get your hands on some great art and real collectors pieces. The decks includes laser art by Ben Brown, Eric Elms, Ben Drury, Usugrow, Josh Petherick, Ionescu, Jeff Staple, Alife, Parra, Pushead, Michael Leon and other great names.

fifty24pdx: usugrow’s behind the black.

FIFTY 24PDX Gallery presents “Behind The Black, Behind The White”, an exhibit of new paintings and illustrations from my favourite Japanese artist Usugrow. Featuring a dramatic signature style in black & white, Usugrow creates his work from the foundations of organic contrast and dignified beauty. Since the early 1990s, he has been at work honing his craft for the Japanese Hardcore music scene, developing an easy reputation for meaningful, stunning artwork in support of the scene. Backed by strong community accolades, Usugrow soon branched out to the Hip-Hop and Metal scenes, as well as developed his own clothing line.
Skating, tattooing, graffiti, music – Usugrow absorbed elements from all of these environments to create his signature style of art. He is currently working in his Tokyo studio, doing album covers and merchandise for foreign hardcore and metal bands and hip-hop groups, as well as domestic bands. He has been also working on art for several clothing brands and skateboard companies, including Upper Playground, Adidas, The Hundreds, Famous Stars & Stripes, Consolidated, Skull Skates, and Burton Snowboards.
For his first exhibition in Portland, Usugrow brings together a selection of new works on paper and new paintings in his signature style. He will also exhibit a selection of classic works in screenprinted form. White and Black – in other words, the light and dark sides of life; Usugrow explores the minimalist methodology of black ink on white paper, creating his own world of organic contrasts. His contemporary subject matter is infused with traditional attention to craftsmanship and detail, adding a spirituality and dynamic tension rarely associated with the genre.

“Behind The Black, Behind The White” runs through May 31st, 2008.