Sam Parker was born in 1975, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he spent his formative years learning to draw and paint. He moved to Atlanta Georgia in 1995 to pursue his career as a professional tattooist, a career that he has maintained to this current day. Sam finished his undergraduate degree in 2004 at Kennesaw State University with a BFA in drawing and painting. He currently resides in Colorado and works at Til Death in Denver.

My intention is to create an individual mythology that reflects my understanding of the greater world. The work is in a state of constant flux reflecting my creative process. There are thematic threads that run through each different body of work, such as human dependence on technology and the agency of the individual as a creative being. However, I am constantly exploring and changing in both medium and process. Generally my work is an allegorical exploration of my psyche and personal history. Inspiration is drawn from life experience: conversation with friends, news reports, childhood traumas, etc… Though my work may change radically from year to year or even from project to project, if looked at as a interconnected whole there is a rhythm and cohesiveness that makes it distinctly mine.

Education

MFA: 2007- 2010
Georgia State University- Drawing and painting concentration.

BFA: 1999- 2004
Kennesaw State University- Drawing and painting concentration.

Share Magazine art Director 2003-2004.

Notable Achievements

2004: Senior Scholar Award: drawing and painting concentration. Given to one graduating senior from each department.
Best over all design: HOW Magazine 2004 international design awards, Arts director share: Share Magazine.

2002-2004: Best in show: Kennesaw State University Juried Student Art Exhibition.

2003: 1st place painting: Kennesaw State University Juried Student Juried Art Exhibition.

2002: Best Painting: North Cobb Arts League Juried Art Exhibition.

Teaching Experience
2008 to present: Georgia State University, Adjunct (GTA), Drawing and Painting department, Drawing 1.

2006: Juxtaposition Arts: Minneapolis Minnesota, non profit arts center. Team taught six week course entitled “Advanced Mural Painting: With a Focus on Political Subject Matter” Daniel Bowman and I lead a group of eight students through the process of designing and executing a mural 18 feet tall and 120 feet long.

2005: Visiting artist: Etowah High School, Woodstock, Georgia. Lead a group of students through the process of design and execution of a mural for a stairwell 8 feet tall and 16 feet long.

Work History
Professional Tattooist
Application of tattoos, Collaborating with customers to create one of a kind tattoo designs to fit their life styles.

2008- present: Memorial Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
2007-2008: East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
2005-2007: Graveside Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
2002- 2005: Epic Tattoo, Woodstock, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist .
1999- 2002: Stone Age Tattoo, Acworth, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
1998- 1999: Lucky 13 Tattoo, Kennesaw, Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
1996- 1998: Red Queen Tattoo, Chattanooga Tennessee. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.
1995-1996: Body Images Tattoo, Atlanta Georgia. Independent contractor/ Professional tattooist.

Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2010: “The Pink Passenger” Ernest G. Wells Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
2009: “Neoteny” Beep Beep Gallery, Atlanta Georgia.
2008: “The Road to Excess” Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
2007: “Decay and Purge” Atelier 43, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Odds and Ends” Arora Coffee, Atlanta, Georgia.
2006: “A Fantastic Bestiary” Carroll Street Café, Atlanta, Georgia.

Group Exhibition
2010:
“Feral Flirtations” Kibbee Gallery” Atlanta Georgia.
“Day of the Dead” Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
“Home Show” Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
“Supernatural Circus” ABV Galley, Atlanta Georgia.
“It Came From” Cornbred Gallery, Atl;anta Georgia.
“Word” Peters Street Projects, Atlanta Georgia.
“Here We Hide” Mint Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Scale” Studio Nine Hundred, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Journey, Myth, Memory” Kibbee Galler, Atlanta Georgia.
“The Blotter Show” Kibbee Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.

2009:
“Day of the Dead Show” Eye Drum, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Everybody for Everyman” The Bench, Atlanta, Georgia.

2008:
“Monster Mayhem” The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Damn Dirty Ape” The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Somewhere Over the Ocean Somewhere Under the Sea” The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Seasonal Show” Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Ground Works 2″ Foundation One Gallery, Decatur, Georgia.
“The Grind 2″ (skate board show) Rabbit Hole Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Sons of The South, Part 2″ Rabbit Hole Gallery. Atlanta, Georgia.
“Prints” East Side Lounge, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Drawings” Aurora Coffee, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Can’t Live without My Radio”(4th annual) Relapse Theater, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Majestic Hours” Beep Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Tights are Preferred” Aurora Coffee, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Art of Democracy” (political print show) Eye Drum, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Small Works Show” Atelier 43. Atlanta, Georgia.
“Hand Job”(painting performance) Five Spot, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Day of the Dead” Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Wheels of Steel” Relapse Theater, Atlanta, Georgia.

2007:
“Can’t Live without My Radio” (3th annual) Relapse Theater, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Pop Nostalgia” Beep Beep Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Ground Works ” Foundation One Gallery, Decatur, Georgia.
“The Grind” (skate board show) Foundation One Gallery, Decatur, Georgia.
“Boardom” Beep Beep Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.”
“Evereman”(coffee Table show) Beep Beep Gallery. Atlanta, Georgia.
“A- Game” Eye Drum, Atlanta, Georgia.
“All Kings” Art Space International, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Damn Dirty Ape” The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia.
“When Robots Ruled the Earth” The Gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo, Atlanta, Georgia.

2006:
“Cryptozoology” McCaige- Welles Gallery, Brooklyn, Ny
“Doble Filo” YoYo Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Back to Basics” Village Pizza, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Origins” Foundation One Gallery, Decatur, Georgia.
“Can’t Live without My Radio” (2nd annual) YoYo Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“5th Biennial KSU Art Alumni Exhibition” Sturgis Library Gallery, Kennesaw, Georgia.
“The History of Violence” Five Spot, Atlanta, Georgia.

2005:
“From A to B” Dactyl Gallery, NY, New York.
“Minding Art (Art and Philosophy” Five Spot, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Breaking Hearts and Burning Bridges” All or Nothing Gallery, Smyrna, Georgia.
“Ronin” All or Nothing Gallery, Smyrna, Georgia.

2004:
“The Art of Dining (AIDS Survival Project)” Momus Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Mythos” All or Nothing Gallery, Smyrna, Georgia.
“The Nine” Sturgis library Gallery, Kennesaw, Georgia.
“Ebb and Flow” Pangeae, Atlanta, Georgia.
“Opening” Compound, Atlanta, Georgia.
“KSU Student Juried Art Exhibition” Sturgis Gallery, Kennesaw, Georgia.
“Vice show” B Complex, Atlanta, Georgia.

2003:
“KSU Student Juried Art Exhibition” Sturgis Gallery, Kennesaw, Georgia.
“The Art of Dining (AIDS Survival Project)” Momus Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
“North Cobb Art Association Juried Art Exhibition” Kennesaw, Georgia.

2002: 
“KSU Student Juried Art Exhibition” Sturgis Gallery, Kennesaw, Georgia.