Don Ed Hardy, whose clothing designs can be seen on rock stars and celebrities, began his creative life as a renowned tattoo artist. Born in Iowa in 1945, Hardy grew up in southern California and studied tattoo design under Sailor Jerry. His talents as a tattooist have been widely acknowledged, and he is famous for his skillful and artistic use of Japanese designs which he incorporates into his own work. Known as the “godfather of modern tattoo,” Hardy has achieved worldwide acclaim. Both Ed Hardy tattoos and Ed Hardy clothing are distinctive and easily recognizable for their bold designs.
Ed's popularity is due in part to his unique designs, as well as his understanding of what people find interesting in clothes and pop culture.
Early Career
In the 1980s, he and his wife teamed up to form Hardy Marks Publications. They published a five-book series on surfing, as well as other literature expounding upon tattooing and other artistic avenues. He has worked to promote the work of his mentor, Sailor Jerry Collins, as well.
Evolution of an Artist
Don Ed Hardy has truly been a pioneer in the field of tattooing-as-art and has shown his work in numerous exhibitions. He has also curated several exhibits. His tattoos have been featured in a large number of magazines, books and films, and they are widely displayed in his famous clothing line. Jerry Brown, Mayor of Oakland, Calif., appointed him to the Oakland Cultural Arts Commission.
In 2000, Ed designed a 500 foot long scroll painting featuring 2,000 dragons in honor of the millennium and the year of the dragon. This scroll has been exhibited in many renowned galleries, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.
From Tattoos to Clothing
These days, Ed Hardy has turned most of his attention toward his work as a clothing designer and print maker. However, he still oversees the tattoo work of several artists at Tattoo City, his San Francisco studio.
His career took off in phenomenal directions when he signed on with Ku USA to feature his art on their clothes in 2002. Together, they teamed up to form Hardy and Ku USA. However, this was just the beginning. His clothing design career really took off in 2004, when Christian Audigier obtained the licensing rights to create clothes inspired by his tattoo designs. The line is primarily marketed to celebrities, but you can find people from all walks of life wearing these popular clothes, particularly his t-shirts and trucker hats. At present, there are Ed Hardy Shops all over the world ... Berlin, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Dubai and Tel Aviv ... just to name a few.
The popularity of his clothing continues to grow, and wearing his designs is an immediate mark of good taste. From teenagers to urban hipsters, this clothing line can be seen everywhere on every stripe of person. We appreciate the man, not only for his revolutionary designs, but his commendable artistic journey from tattoo artist to renowned clothing designer.
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