Tanner Wilson's artistic style poised to take over Atlanta
The artist gleans inspiration from growing up amid the hardcore, tattoo, and graffiti scenes in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Wilson’s immersion in his local hardcore, tattoo, and graffiti scene paired with his artistic talents results in him designing albums art, apparel, and flyers. “Once I started to get some attention and make a little money,” Wilson says, “it seemed like the right route to take.” After graduating from the University of Saint Francis, School of Creative Arts, he moved to ATL in the summer of 2012 after not getting a job he’d really wanted and breaking up with his girlfriend around the same time, crashing with his brother who lived here until he found his footing.
It’s easy to see how tattoos have influenced Wilson’s artistic style — he doesn’t shy away from thick lines and bold color combos. His work has been featured on the labels of Orpheus Brewing’s The Ferryman imperial stout, Living Walls merch, public walls around town, and dozens of records, posters, and more. “I tend to be in my head a lot and I think that this is what comes from it,” he says of his artistic process. “I also observe people all the time — you know that weird guy in the airport who is just staring at everybody? Well, that’s me.”
This past spring and summer saw Wilson with work in a handful of local shows, including live painting event at Orpheus Brewing, Notch8 Gallery’s Inratio show, Outer Space Project’s Big Bang event at Terminal West, and a collab with Molly Rose Freeman for this year’s Forward Warrior in Cabbagetown. Though his appearances for fall and beyond are hush-hush, Wilson ensures us we probably won’t stop hearing his name in the city’s arts scene anytime soon. “Right now,” he adds, “as cheesy as it sounds, my goal is to make art and enjoy life as much as I can.”