#TheVegasILove,  Art

Artist Feature: Mike Biggs

During my stint as an Arts District shop owner, I realized an important thing—not all artists are born equal. Some are happy to perpetuate the stereotype of the tortured creative who can’t commit or abide by a deadline. Some, however, have an incredible work ethic and endeavor to improve their craft in any way they can. Mike Biggs is the latter.

Zombie Caddy by Mike Biggs

Born and raised here, in Vegas, he feels the city has a certain edge that seeped into his art via the “fun, creepy, dark themes” he enjoys “impressing on people’s eyeballs.” I’m always inspired by artists who have a unique style or point of view and pursue various mediums to communicate it. Biggs explores “dark stories, hidden messages, and classic or urban folk tales” on canvas, through sculpting, with ceramics, and forever showcased on human skin. Besides ghoulish imagery, a thread runs through his work that creates a solid, cohesive feel.

Tattoos by Mike Biggs at Studio 21 Tattoo

It’s all in the thoughtful details he chooses to flawlessly incorporate into his art. The piece “Zombie Caddy” features a possessed Cadillac with two rows of jagged, coarse teeth. No two teeth are alike; each has their own striated texture and burnt orange coloration. Looking into the eyes of the fox tattoo he gave a lucky customer, one can see shades of yellow deftly blended to conjure realism and magic all at once. In his recent foray into ceramic work, playfulness emerges with the use of different colored washes to highlight varying detail and emotions within the same sculpt.

Mummy tiki mugs in two different washes by Mike Biggs

When asked to describe his workspace in three words Biggs chooses: “Comfy technological Laboratory.” This is indicative of his approach to creating. He tests new tools, a mad scientist enamored with pushing the limits of what can be accomplished. Even though most of the iconography is dark (he sites Ashley Wood, OneQ, J.A.W. Cooper, and H.R. Giger as some of his inspirations), it is not brooding. There is so much joy in what this artist brings to life. It stems from who Biggs is, a husband, a father, and an artist who is still grateful that he “made something from scratch and is original and people actually buy it. So crazy.”

Girl with iPad, canvas with a dark message by Mike Biggs

Like many creatives, Biggs has a day job. He is a tattoo artist at the famed local shop, Studio 21 Tattoo. His journey to this point has been circuitous. After completing a degree in Computer Animation the artist pursued an eight-year-long career as an in-house graphic designer. His path changed when cuts ended his time at the company. Looking for a steady paycheck, he stumbled into tattooing. The road in this new career was not easy; it involved a heavy financial investment and two apprenticeships. However, over time, he has fallen in love with tattooing as an art form and profession.

Mummy tiki mug, sculpting, production, and paint by Mike Biggs

When reflecting on the advice he’d give aspiring artists at the beginning of their journey, Biggs pulls from tried and true wisdom that we’d all benefit from “be open minded, don’t be afraid to try out every medium of art and see what you enjoy doing. Don’t be afraid to mess up, fail, waste money and product....just do art.” Fear of failure often cripples not just artists, but anyone seeking to make their career dreams come true. His final piece of advice though feels particularly Biggsian, and I’m inclined to adopt it—“Be obsessed.”

2 Comments

  • Valerie J Runyan

    I loved this piece on Mike Biggs and I really believe his and your advice ring true, don’t be afraid to try new things and be obsessed! I know I am! Thank You for another great piece, Veronica!