CASEY MCGLYNN | 235 IDEAS FOR TATTOOS
Casey McGlynn's 235 Ideas for Tattoos brings a unique perspective to his ever-evolving visual lexicon. Approaching his subject matter with vulnerability and a sense of humor, McGlynn's canvases are read like a visual diary. Symbolic animals, pop culture references, recognizable figures and influences, all appear alongside stories from the artist's day to day life. To celebrate the 26th anniversary show of his Ideas for Tattoos series, first unveiled in 1999, our February First Thursday opening featured a pop-up by local tattoo artist Colin O’Shaughnessy Tucker of Storm Bloom Tattoo. Limited edition flash tattoos from McGlynn's canvases were inked in gallery.
26 years ago, I had the idea to do a show of all small works called 235 Ideas for Tattoos. This show was a reaction to what was going on in art in the early 90s. A lot of heavy concepts and use of tables and displays of objects and writing that seemed so pretentious and out of touch with creativity. I wanted art to be more fun and personal and way less precious.
The show put me on the map in the Canadian art world. I owe a debt of gratitude to curator Katharine Mulherin who died a few years ago. She was a fearless pioneer and allowed her artists total freedom of expression. 26 years later, I’m still here partly because of her. - Casey McGlynn
McGlynn holds a Diploma from Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto, ON. His work is shown across North America, including at Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder, CO; and Alabama State Council of the Arts, Montgomery, AL. McGlynn has received multiple awards and was a guest lecturer at several universities including at Brock University, St. Catherines, ON. His work is part of collections across North America.