Gunnar was born in New Britain, Connecticut in 1974 and grew up in the “Constitution
State.” By the time he reached high school, skateboarding and hardcore music had
taken center stage in his life and he was able to turn a burgeoning interest in sketching
and drawing into his first artistic gig, when he began designing flyers for local bands.
Soon thereafter, while in college, Gunnar got his initial taste of ink when he received his
first tattoo at a local shop. This new creative introduction would eventually lead to an
apprenticeship offer and an enthusiastic and innovative tattooist was born.
Beginning his professional tattoo career in 1997, Gunnar was originally juggling the
demands of working in corporate America while beginning his artistic pursuit. Within the
first two years of his time behind the tattoo machine, the ink industry was quickly taking
notice, as he was featured in two international publications and rapidly building a large
local fan base. He knew that his passion for art was the direction he needed to head
towards and said goodbye to the corporate world to focus on reading, learning, and
wholeheartedly dedicating his time to consistent practice of his newfound career path.
Always a dedicated father, itʼs not surprising that lessons learned from fatherhood and
observations of his daughtersʼ childhood would present themselves in the artwork that
Gunnar creates. By the time his second daughter was born, the style that he has
become known for was developing from Gunnarʼs keen perception of how adorable, yet
devilish the little tykes could be, and these ideas were transforming themselves onto
paper, canvas, and skin. The “Cute and Creepy” motto that is synonymous with
Gunnarʼs world of imagery contains that balance of sweet, spooky, and devious in the
best of ways.
By the time he opened Gods and Monsters Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery in Columbus,
Ohio, Gunnarʼs award-winning work was highly sought-after around the world and he
had established himself as a leader in the “New School” tattoo movement. Not only
were tattoo enthusiasts taking notice, but the record industry was as well. It was in 2004
when the band New Found Glory and their label, Geffen Records, commissioned
Gunnar to design the artwork for their “All Down Hill From Here” EP album. The world-
wide release exposed Gunnarʼs imaginative and colorful world of characters to a huge
new audience of fans.
Soon thereafter, Gunnar made his way to the West Coast when he moved to Southern
California, much to the delight of tattoo collectors in the Pacific Time Zone. He used this
opportunity to hone in on his technique, further sharpening his skills and continuing his
zeal to learn and progress. Working with other like-minded artists, he began displaying
his paintings in several group shows and had a successful stint at Warped 9 Gallery in
San Diego, California, where he was featured in his first solo show.
By 2009, it was time to return to Ohio so that he could spend more time with his
daughters and begin the next chapter in his artistic journey. When he is not on the road,
Gunnar makes his home at High Street Tattoo in Columbus, where his drive to grow as
a tattooist and artist continues, as is evidenced in his original, bold, and avant-garde
designs across each medium he delves into.
In February of 2011, Gunnar had a very successful art show at the Rivet Gallery in
Columbus, Ohio, called “Broken Hearts and Party Hats.” It was a celebration of
loneliness and appropriately opened on Valentineʼs Day, featuring paintings with strong
emotional concepts that were stylistically and narratively diverse.
He is currently writing and illustrating his first childrenʼs book called “Lilith and Thatch,”
which will be adapted into an illustrated short film. Also keeping him busy is his large-
scale collaborative project, “Story to Tell,” which is a clever undertaking that focuses on
the idea that every person has a story to tell. Having traveled far and wide, and having
met so many people and explored so many cultures, Gunnar realized that illustrating
that cross-section of life is a concept that everyone could learn and grow from. With
fellow artisans and friends joining in on the collaboration, a huge team of inspiration is
bringing together one connected and creative image.
In addition to the gallery shows and impressive projects that are in progress, Gunnarʼs
work can regularly be seen in publications throughout the world and has been honored
and acknowledged with countless awards and trophies throughout the years. His vision
towards an imaginative future is the name of the game for Gunnar in all the he does, so
keep an eye out for the next round of uplifting and innovative artwork that his pencil,
paintbrush, or tattoo machine bestows.