 MIAMI — What did the tattoo say to the painting? Tupicalo. Born in Detroit, Mich., raised in Miami, Tupicalo is a master pastelist, custom tattooer and mural composer.
He also was
among the innovative African Diaspora artists featured by the Art N Soul
Gallery at the Miami Artexpo +Solo in Midtown during Art Basel.
His
is a unique story. “My art career started very early,” Tupicalo said.
“I would create paper mache animals, as well as drawings (of) cartoon
heroes.” Soon his work was popular enough that “I’d barter my art for
candy.”
As
he progressed as an artist with the support of his family, he said, a
cousin encouraged him in the direction of tattoos, “and I’ve been
tattooing ever since.”
DETOUR
Then came a detour of sorts, when Tupicalo was 17 years old, and charged with armed robbery.
He
was released in July after 15 years in prison — also after he took
correspondence courses while in prison, started a successful prison art
program, and turned his life around as a model prisoner painting
hundreds of works of fine art.
While
in prison, Tupicalo said, “I was able to focus solely in my art, a very
rare opportunity that thankfully I utilized. And in so I moved into
pastels in 2004. Since then I’ve fallen in love with creating realism to
various degrees with pastels, from photo realism to minimalism. There’s
something about pure pigment and the way light reflects off them. And I
love the fact I get to create with the minerals in the earth. So in
some way I feel my works are small pieces of Eden. Created from the
Land.”
It
was Al Huggins, a fine art consultant who as the owner of Art N Soul
exhibits artists’ works across the nation, who was impressed by
Tupicalo’s and invited him to exhibit as part of Huggins’ gallery space
at the 34th annual Artexpo Miami that concluded Sunday.
Art
n Soul works with artists through all stages of art production and
seeks opportunities for them to display their talents. “I am thrilled to
have the opportunity to present their art work and I look forward to
engaging with art lovers,” Huggins said.
COMMISSION
Today,
Tupicalo can be commissioned for pastel portraits and/or custom tattoos
at tupicalo.com, artnsoul.com or
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He is a founding
member of the Artist of the Golden Guild, who has been commissioned for
portraits in various private collections, and is a featured artist in
Hollywood City Hall.
Catch
Tupicalo and other Art N Soul artists next at The Harlem Renaissance
Traveling Exhibit in Sunrise, Jan. 21 - Feb. 21, 2013.
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