Originally from Boise, Idaho, Evan Paul English (b. 1990) earned his BFA from the University of Arizona in 2013 and his MFA from Pratt Institute in 2016. He currently lives and works in Kingston, New York.

Evan’s multidisciplinary practice spans painting, installation, sculpture, murals, and tattoo art. Drawing inspiration from his collection of vintage ephemera, his work examines themes of gender, class, and queer identity in America. By centering florals—often dismissed as merely decorative—he reclaims them as symbols of cultural, social, and personal reflection, infusing them with new meaning and relevance.

At the heart of Evan’s work is an exploration of how environments and objects shape our self-understanding. Decorative motifs are used to challenge stereotypes and provoke deeper questions about gender constructs and social norms. Approaching his references through an analytical lens, he merges tender nostalgia with a more critical view of the past, crafting a visual language that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant.

This tension between dualistic oppositions is amplified through his process of creation. Whether juxtaposing disparate objects or combining techniques that traditionally clash, he constructs liminal spaces where harmony and discord coexist–an expression emblematic of queer experience. This interplay extends across his varied practices, from his studio work to his tattoo art, forming a cohesive narrative that bridges disciplines.

Evan’s dedication to reclamation and self-expression is equally reflected in his tattoo practice. As co-founder of Yarrow Studio, an inclusive tattoo space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, he recognized the transformative power of tattooing as a tool for empowerment and healing. In his work, he reimagines traditional American floral designs, transforming historically conservative motifs into unique, commemorative tattoos that serve as deeply personal expressions of identity. Now working privately from his Kingston studio, Evan continues to create tattoos that center storytelling, agency, and connection—particularly for members of the queer community.

In his recent body of paintings, Evan explores the concepts of magnification and abstraction. Using a small viewfinder, he isolates compositions within vintage fabrics and translates them into paintings of varying scales. Through distortion and enlargement, he invites viewers to experience familiar patterns in new and unexpected ways, fostering moments of reflection and discovery.

Evan is currently creating a body of work which bridges his tattoo and studio art practices, encapsulating the tension between pain and delight. For the past year, he has collected the paper towels used to wipe away ink and blood during tattoo sessions (with the permission of his clients), intending to integrate these fragments into new works. The piece collages these colorful, stained scraps into a quilt-like composition, evoking themes of human connection, bodily intimacy, and collective memory.

The work draws on the visual language of patchwork quilting, invoking associations with domesticity, community, and the history of the AIDS crisis. Each stained paper towel, originating from a different client, becomes a fragment of a larger whole, mirroring the way individual lives and experiences converge within collective histories. The resulting tension between beauty and abjection is central to the piece: florals—symbols of life and growth—emerge from materials marked by evidence of the body’s pain and raw physicality. Through this process, Evan invites viewers to confront the complexities of memory, identity, and interconnectedness.

News:

Evan was recently an Artist Fellow at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, participated in the 2020 edition of SPRING/BREAK Art Show in New York City,  recently exhibited work at Fridman Gallery, had a solo exhibition with Chashama in November, 2021, and has a solo museum exhibition entitled 'SCRAP BOOK' at The Alice Austen House in Staten Island, on view until Feburary 2024.

You can view Evan's CV and exhibition history here.