Thom DeVita

Thom DeVita bridges the gap between fine art and tattoo art. His designs were based on classic designs and changed to his style. He also experiments massively with his work, drawing, painting, wax and chalk rubbings and different materials like cardboard, black paper, and wooden pallets. He started tattooing in New York City's Lower East Side in the mid 60s—when tattooing was illegal in the city—and quickly began to forge his own style. Thom drew from a wide variety of influences for his tattoos, everything from Pueblo Indian designs to Lord & Taylor shopping bags. He also formed relationships with other American tattooers who were revolutionizing tattooing by bringing in influences that went far beyond the usual array of images found in most American tattoo parlors at the time. This is my favourite episode of the tattoo age series as DeVita shows how important it is to keep pushing the boundaries and stay creative.