‘Year of the Tiger’ Review: Artists Fill 111 Minna with Big Cats

Over the weekend, the Lunar New 12 months transitioned the world from the 12 months of the Tiger — a interval of motion and power — into the a lot gentler 12 months of the Rabbit, a time of peace and reflection. Not everybody was fairly able to let go of all that large cat power, nonetheless. Living proof: the tattoo artists who banded collectively over the weekend to throw the tiger one final hurrah.

12 months of the Tiger, now on show at downtown San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery is a set of works curated by Luke Stewart, the proprietor of Seventh Son Tattoo within the SoMa. Most of Seventh Son’s artists contributed work to the exhibition, together with native physique artwork legends Henry Lewis, Grime and Jeff Croci.

12 months of the Tiger additionally gathers expertise from different Bay Space tattoo outlets, together with San Francisco’s Black Coronary heart, Berkeley’s Battle Horse and Albany’s André Malcolm Studio. Artists from additional afield — like Austin’s David Grizzle and Los Angeles’ Christina Ramos — additionally function.

Surprisingly, the place 12 months of the Tiger usually excels is within the moments that stretch exterior the realms of conventional tattoo aesthetics. George Campise’s Tony and His Goddamn Geese is a hilarious mash up of Tony the Tiger and Tony Soprano.

Bay Space muralist Amandalynn is certainly one of solely two non-tattoo artists featured within the present. Her piece Painted Woman is a stand-out second, bringing a soupçon of female avenue model to the proceedings.

Stunning work by Kim Stace Thomas, Matt Leibowitz and Jared Smith — all Seventh Son artists — embody rabbits of their tiger renditions, respectful nods to the Lunar New 12 months’s inflow of contemporary power. All of that are pleasant additions to a present that tattoo lovers will certainly need to take a prowl round.

‘12 months of the Tiger’ is on view at 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, via March 23, 2023. Exhibition details here.