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Chris O'Donnell
Interview by Chris O'Donnell
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Imagine my surprise when I found out that I would be
the person to interview the tattooer Chris O’Donnell
for Tattoo Artist Magazine. I’ve known the guy almost
all my life, but sometimes I feel like I barely know him
at all. Honestly, sometimes I don’t even like the guy!
Then again, I think that, most of the time ... he’s trying,
trying really hard. I think his intentions are good. I figured
I would use this opportunity to get to know him a little
better. Hopefully he will be willing to open up a little ... and
hopefully it will be interesting.
Chris: Hello Chris. How are you today?
Chris: I’m OK. I’m a little nervous. It took
me forever to get here. Traffic was terrible.
Well, you’re here now. And I’m fine, by the way.
Thanks for asking...
Oh sorry, like I said, I’m nervous...
It’s OK. So, let’s start with the basics. Where are
you from originally?
I was born in Flint, Michigan. But I grew up
in Richmond, Virginia.
How long have you been tattooing?
Thirteen years as of last month (February).
It was my after-school job, senior year of
high school. I was seventeen.
And you live in New York City now?
Yes, thankfully, since 2000. I’ve worked at
New York Adorned the entire time I’ve lived
in New York.
What made you move to New York?
I...I just couldn’t resist the call. All my life I
lived in Richmond, and all my life I dreamed
of living somewhere else; somewhere
important. I was originally thinking
California, but the more I would visit, the
less I liked it. It was better than Richmond,
but not what I had obsessively imagined it to
be. I had been to New York as a kid, and later,
I did a few guest artist spots with Timothy
Hoyer, and then a few on my own. After that I
was sold. It was just a matter of time.
You had already been tattooing seven years
at the point when you moved, if my math is
correct.
That sounds right.
During three of which, you owned your own shop
with Timothy Hoyer, Alive Gallery.
Yeah, it was a complicated situation. I loved
working with Timothy, and I know I wouldn’t
be much today without his generosity and
guidance, plus his friendship. But in reality,
the only part of Richmond that I liked was
inside the walls of the shop. Otherwise I
was miserable. I felt…depressed. Timothy
could tell, he understood. He left Kansas
right out of high school.
Are you and Timothy still close?
As close as you can be with a long distance
friendship. We stay in touch and he comes
to New York to work on a semi-regular basis.
It’s always good to see him.
So New York has been good to you, a good fit?
I would say New York has been great to me,
and New York Adorned has been crucial!
I was extremely lucky to step into such a
high profile New York City shop, right off the
bat. It’s just so established. Lori opened it
almost ten years ago and she never stopped
hustling. I’m thankful I landed there.
It seems to be a mutually beneficial relationship.
I hope so, yeah, I think it is.
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