Portfolio > Wanted

Jimmy "Bam Bam" Rodriguez, Pasco, Washington (Escape from community custody)
Dodge Caravan hood, applied, carved, inlaid, and stenciled body filler, resin colorants, polyester resin, primer, cut vinyl, chrome emblem
36" X 60" X 7"
2012
Jimmy "Bam Bam" Rodriguez, Pasco, Washington (Escape from community custody)
Dodge Caravan hood, applied, carved, inlaid, and stenciled body filler, resin colorants, polyester resin, primer, cut vinyl, chrome emblem
36" X 60" X 7"
2012
Jimmy "Bam Bam" Rodriguez, Pasco, Washington (Escape from community custody)
Dodge Caravan hood, applied, carved, inlaid, and stenciled body filler, resin colorants, polyester resin, primer, cut vinyl, chrome emblem
36" X 60" X 7"
2012
Jimmy "Bam Bam" Rodriguez, Pasco, Washington (Escape from community custody)
Dodge Caravan hood, applied, carved, inlaid, and stenciled body filler, resin colorants, polyester resin, primer, cut vinyl, chrome emblem
36" X 60" X 7"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Michael "Mr. Indio" DeCoteau, East Wenatchee, Washington (Probation Violation)
2001 Lincoln Navigator hood, applied, carved and inlaid body filler, resin colorants, steel, cut vinyl, decals
48" X 63" X 8"
2012
Israel "Izzy" Rodrigues, Butte, Montana (Criminal Endangerment)
1998 Honda Accord hood, body filler, resin colorants, steel, seat cover, aluminum-filled body repair material, stickers
58” X 49” X 5”
2012
Israel "Izzy" Rodrigues, Butte, Montana (Criminal Endangerment)
1998 Honda Accord hood, body filler, resin colorants, steel, seat cover, aluminum-filled body repair material, stickers
58” X 49” X 5”
2012
Israel "Izzy" Rodrigues, Butte, Montana (Criminal Endangerment)
1998 Honda Accord hood, body filler, resin colorants, steel, seat cover, aluminum-filled body repair material, stickers
58” X 49” X 5”
2012
Israel "Izzy" Rodrigues, Butte, Montana (Criminal Endangerment)
1998 Honda Accord hood, body filler, resin colorants, steel, seat cover, aluminum-filled body repair material, stickers
58” X 49” X 5”
2012
Israel "Izzy" Rodrigues, Butte, Montana (Criminal Endangerment)
1998 Honda Accord hood, body filler, resin colorants, steel, seat cover, aluminum-filled body repair material, stickers
58” X 49” X 5”
2012
hood, steer horns, mounted, bondo, airbrush, decals, vinyl, resin, sculpture, art, inlaid, carved, grim reaper, bull skull, fugitive portrait
1994 Ford pickup hood, body filler, steel, resin colorants, resin, vinyl, steer horns
50" X 69" X 17"
2012
Larry Halbert, Middleton, Idaho (Failure to Appear: DUI)
1994 Ford pickup hood, inlaid body filler, resin colorants, airbrush
50" X 69" X 17"
2012
fugitive portrait, scorpion, barbed wire, Mazda hood, vinyl, decal, bondo, carved body filler, cast body filler, carved bondo, inlaid bondo, sculpture
Mazda 626 hood, body filler, cut vinyl
52" X 60" X 8"
2011
Rodney "Asshole" Colbert, Grandview, Washington (Burglary)
Mazda 626 hood, body filler, cut vinyl
52" X 60" X 8"
2011
Rodney "Asshole" Colbert, Grandview, Washington (Burglary)
Mazda 626 hood, body filler, cut vinyl
52" X 60" X 8"
2011
Rodney "Asshole" Colbert, Grandview, Washington (Burglary)
Mazda 626 hood, body filler, cut vinyl
52" X 60" X 8"
2011

In 'Fugitive Portraits' I condense the narratives formed by the tattoos of fugitives wanted for common crimes to develop their constructed identity into an object through the mediation of material process, and craft. My methodology is based on the factual details found in legal and news media documents. I select hoods from cars specific to the circumstances of each fugitive to compose each portrait.

The impersonal list format of Most Wanted postings allows me to consider the tattoo descriptions abstractly, contemplate larger connections and ideas, and begin to access the character and personality of each fugitive as they have constructed it through the choices of images and graphics engraved on their flesh.

While tattoos are permanent, the status of each individual fugitive is fleeting. Once they are deceased or captured, my approximation of their constructed identity no longer functions as a surrogate but gains different meaning as an artifact or memorial.