ODDITIES, a Ringling Museum Courtyard Exhibition of five local artists who compose uncanny surrealisms presented by Artist Liaison, Ender Wilde. The works contain traces of sarcasm, wit, gore, and psychological discoveries within outlandish compositions.Through their narratives these artists bypass reason and rationality by accessing their unconscious mind to expose the complex and repressed inner worlds of desire and violence. A series of illustrations, composed of idyllic colors and familiar landscapes meant to entice the viewer, ODDITIES’ artists use monsters and creatures to represent the culture and customs they navigate on a daily basis.
Pop surreal influences, the macarabe, and eroticism layer to engage and encourage the gaze.
DESIRE
Scott Olive was born in a land far, far away. A little known place called Tampa, Florida. Scott grew up influenced by Salvador Dali, Dr. Seuss, and DMX. His favorite food is pizza and his favorite ninja turtle is Michelangelo. He is married and has two young kids, and tattoos full time at Oddity Tattoo on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. www.scottolive.com
Pleasantly obsessed with owls, Alex Lugo, originally from Brooklyn NY, has been tattooing since 1997. Alex’s childlike fascination with the natural world inspires his work. He hopes one day his talents in art and tattooing will be mirrored in regard to mustache grooming. www.alexlugotattoos.com
UNCANNY ROMANTICISM
Self-taught, Travis Franklin holds many titles including co-owner of Oddity Tattoo and Arts (with his wife Melanie), painter, sculptor, tattoo artist and inventor. Travis’s work creates a feeling of other-worldliness by featuring familiar elements with extreme perspectives and dynamic details. Travis draws inspiration from emotions, feelings and thoughts rather than anything tangible. He explores the beauty and profoundness in subjects that others might find disturbing or morbid. www.travisfranklin.com
A native of Germany, Will Ralston, began making art at an early age, forever burning through sketchbooks and leaking pencils from every pocket. Will develops large scale intense expressions to produce an unbalanced state or an emotional contradiction. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Illustration from Ringling College of Art & Design in 2008. He continues to illustrate in the skin, as a part of the incredible family of artists at Oddity Tattoo Studio & Arts. www.willralston.com
Horror artist, Matt Helmer, unconsciously adds elements of fear and revulsion even in the most mundane subject matter. Matt’s erie palette, unsettling gestures and deceitful compositions reflect his attraction to the macabre. Reconstructing certain parts of the psychic structure to be singled out, explored and brought to their maximum development, often in monsters. Instagram: @matthelmer
Each of the artists presented in ODDITIES utilize different subject matter to illustrate the uncanny; their commonality is found in the relationship between their artwork and the viewer’s experience of narrative. Highly saturated colors to engage the viewer in an ideal counter world allows the them to engage in the underlying perplexities. The Surrealist impulse to tap the unconscious mind, and these artists’ interests in myth and primitivism, remains influential in their work at Oddity Tattoo Studio & Art Gallery in Sarasota, building their brand as new age, pop surreal, and uncanny tattoo specialists.
All inquiries should be sent directly to Oddity Tattoo & Art 941.955.6246 or to Ringling Underground Artist Liaison, Ender at enderwildeart@gmail.com.