November 18, 2024
Craig Tracy, a pioneer of unconventional art, has created captivating images utilizing human bodies as canvases since 2001. Tracy's upbringing in New Orleans immersed him in the city's dynamic culture and influenced his artistic passion. Craig's parents, who were part of the nonconformist hippie movement, nurtured his creativity and instilled in him a unique perspective on art and life. "It was always evident that I was destined to be a professional artist," Craig recalls. Throughout his youth, Craig's art was filled with depictions of love and beauty. By fifteen, he was introduced to airbrushing, and by sixteen, he was professionally airbrushing custom items in a local mall. This experience honed his skills, teaching him to paint diverse images on various surfaces.
He graduated from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with honors and returned home to New Orleans where he continues to live in the French Quarter. The vibrant culture of New Orleans, especially the tradition of face painting, deeply influenced his artistic journey. "From the first face I painted, I felt its profound impact. It took me years to truly appreciate this ancient art form," Craig reflects. He discovered that face and body painting was profoundly motivating and powerful, and it reignited his artistic passion. He began masterfully merging meticulously painted bodies with intricate backgrounds, transforming traditional bodypainting into fine art and bringing fantastical worlds and wild animals to life. Craig's passion for body painting grew exponentially. Never one to be satisfied with conventional art, Craig Tracy has created mesmerizing images using human bodies as his canvases since 2001.
His inaugural series of bodypainting images, titled "The Nature Series," received critical acclaim, with some pieces becoming iconic. The series prompted him to travel to Europe to collaborate with fellow bodypainters. He learned of the World Bodypainting Festival in Austria and in 2005, Tracy and fellow artist Jeral Tidwell secured the festival's top prize. Tracy continues to attend the event annually, considering it one of his life's greatest joys. “I’m always excited about the World Bodypainting Festival. It’s such a wonderful event and the opportunity to see and participate in such an event is spectacular,” he mused. However, he’s taking 2025 off to welcome his third child!
Key inspirations for Tracy’s art include Norman Rockwell, M.C. Escher, Boris Vallejo, Chuck Close, Robert Mapplethorpe, H.R. Giger, Toulouse-Lautrec and Gottlieb Helnwein. He employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating traditional painting, airbrushing, finger-painting, sponging, splattering, and dripping. Tracy creates custom hand-painted backdrops to enhance or complete his desired images. He photographs the bodypainting and backdrop, crafting surreal, thought-provoking artworks that capture a singular moment, often prompting viewers to ponder reality.
"It is my intent to continue to explore and expand the perceptions and boundaries of this most ancient, alluring and contemporary art form," he said. His artistry is exhibited in galleries globally, and he was widely regarded as the authoritative "body-painting guru" on the reality series “Skin Wars.” Tracy also judged Living Art America and organized New York Body Painting Day.
The city of Las Vegas hired him for a glamorous project … to paint an advertisement on four Las Vegas showgirls that was released in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2012. In the summer of 2013, his bodypainting project for the Fiat Corporation involved creating two separate human cars, one with 16 painted bodies and one with 11 painted bodies. This project brought together all of the professional elements that an artist would hope for from an advertising commission. “It was such a challenge and every aspect of the project was impressive,” he recalled.
Today, Craig Tracy stands as a pivotal figure in the bodypainting world. In early 2006, he opened The Craig Tracy Gallery; the first art gallery in the world that deals exclusively in bodypainted images. The transformative and provocative images are sold as hand-signed limited-edition photos as well as canvas and fine art paper prints. Recently relocated to 509 Royal St, the elegant new gallery showcases a diverse collection of photographs, prints, videos and books on body painting. Craig invites all to experience the magic of bodypainting at his gallery, promising an unforgettable experience. He is often in the gallery with his younger brothers, Phil and Eric, who also work there.
Tracy expounded, “Bodypainting is enjoyed for many reasons. It’s part of our historic past. All of our ancestors bodypainted, today we really enjoy the fact that it’s human and not digital. We also enjoy that it’s not conventional. Painting on flat lifeless surfaces such as canvas, paper and wood cannot compare to the beauty and complexity of the natural human body. We are the most interesting and soulful creatures in the known universe. My absolute favorite aspect of my work is the sharing that it allows me to do. I love sharing with viewers and collectors the very real and yet surreal moments of beauty and mystery that my work often involves. I also enjoy sharing with the models involved in my work. Their experience and pleasure as a transformative being is very rewarding in and of itself. Almost everyone that sees my work reacts with an open mouth and then a smile. My models love being painted and they love the results. They are almost always surprised that it’s actually their body that they are looking at. It’s fun for me to see their expressions.”
“‘Speed’ is my favorite of my paintings. It’s a very simple and very complex painting. It deals heavily with contrast and harmony and it does this in a way that is subtle yet apparent. Notice the geometry in the background. A perfect circle, square and triangle: these shapes are also present in the cheetah as well. They represent the manmade and modern, this in contrast to the natural and primitive animal. ‘Speed’ has affected my life in several positive ways with my favorite being that it is my ambassador. It speaks for me and it communicates quite well. It says to the world that this is something different and that it’s worth paying attention to,” Tracy claims.
The surface of the human body fascinates Tracy and drives him to use it as a canvas because, “It’s alive and limitless in its potential. The three-dimensional aspect alone makes the human body exceptional to work on but it’s the fact that it’s alive and complex that really inspires me. The human body has a soul and endless curves. With limitless three-dimensional possibilities the human body is to a flat lifeless canvas what space is to our earth. Nothing comes close to the human body.”
“I allow my inspirations to come to me from all aspects of life and imagination. The natural world and the curves of the human body are my greatest inspirations. Sometimes I’ll see a certain curve on a body and I’ll feel compelled to explore it further with design and color. I love being free to explore as I wish without limits, restraints and conventional expectations. When I think about my good fortune I often break out into laughter and sometime blissful tears. I’m currently living inside of a dream and this dream is joyous and much appreciated,” Tracy mused. Swing by his new gallery at 509 Royal St., and you will understand why he feels this way!
He graduated from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with honors and returned home to New Orleans where he continues to live in the French Quarter. The vibrant culture of New Orleans, especially the tradition of face painting, deeply influenced his artistic journey. "From the first face I painted, I felt its profound impact. It took me years to truly appreciate this ancient art form," Craig reflects. He discovered that face and body painting was profoundly motivating and powerful, and it reignited his artistic passion. He began masterfully merging meticulously painted bodies with intricate backgrounds, transforming traditional bodypainting into fine art and bringing fantastical worlds and wild animals to life. Craig's passion for body painting grew exponentially. Never one to be satisfied with conventional art, Craig Tracy has created mesmerizing images using human bodies as his canvases since 2001.
His inaugural series of bodypainting images, titled "The Nature Series," received critical acclaim, with some pieces becoming iconic. The series prompted him to travel to Europe to collaborate with fellow bodypainters. He learned of the World Bodypainting Festival in Austria and in 2005, Tracy and fellow artist Jeral Tidwell secured the festival's top prize. Tracy continues to attend the event annually, considering it one of his life's greatest joys. “I’m always excited about the World Bodypainting Festival. It’s such a wonderful event and the opportunity to see and participate in such an event is spectacular,” he mused. However, he’s taking 2025 off to welcome his third child!
Key inspirations for Tracy’s art include Norman Rockwell, M.C. Escher, Boris Vallejo, Chuck Close, Robert Mapplethorpe, H.R. Giger, Toulouse-Lautrec and Gottlieb Helnwein. He employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating traditional painting, airbrushing, finger-painting, sponging, splattering, and dripping. Tracy creates custom hand-painted backdrops to enhance or complete his desired images. He photographs the bodypainting and backdrop, crafting surreal, thought-provoking artworks that capture a singular moment, often prompting viewers to ponder reality.
"It is my intent to continue to explore and expand the perceptions and boundaries of this most ancient, alluring and contemporary art form," he said. His artistry is exhibited in galleries globally, and he was widely regarded as the authoritative "body-painting guru" on the reality series “Skin Wars.” Tracy also judged Living Art America and organized New York Body Painting Day.
The city of Las Vegas hired him for a glamorous project … to paint an advertisement on four Las Vegas showgirls that was released in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2012. In the summer of 2013, his bodypainting project for the Fiat Corporation involved creating two separate human cars, one with 16 painted bodies and one with 11 painted bodies. This project brought together all of the professional elements that an artist would hope for from an advertising commission. “It was such a challenge and every aspect of the project was impressive,” he recalled.
Today, Craig Tracy stands as a pivotal figure in the bodypainting world. In early 2006, he opened The Craig Tracy Gallery; the first art gallery in the world that deals exclusively in bodypainted images. The transformative and provocative images are sold as hand-signed limited-edition photos as well as canvas and fine art paper prints. Recently relocated to 509 Royal St, the elegant new gallery showcases a diverse collection of photographs, prints, videos and books on body painting. Craig invites all to experience the magic of bodypainting at his gallery, promising an unforgettable experience. He is often in the gallery with his younger brothers, Phil and Eric, who also work there.
Tracy expounded, “Bodypainting is enjoyed for many reasons. It’s part of our historic past. All of our ancestors bodypainted, today we really enjoy the fact that it’s human and not digital. We also enjoy that it’s not conventional. Painting on flat lifeless surfaces such as canvas, paper and wood cannot compare to the beauty and complexity of the natural human body. We are the most interesting and soulful creatures in the known universe. My absolute favorite aspect of my work is the sharing that it allows me to do. I love sharing with viewers and collectors the very real and yet surreal moments of beauty and mystery that my work often involves. I also enjoy sharing with the models involved in my work. Their experience and pleasure as a transformative being is very rewarding in and of itself. Almost everyone that sees my work reacts with an open mouth and then a smile. My models love being painted and they love the results. They are almost always surprised that it’s actually their body that they are looking at. It’s fun for me to see their expressions.”
“‘Speed’ is my favorite of my paintings. It’s a very simple and very complex painting. It deals heavily with contrast and harmony and it does this in a way that is subtle yet apparent. Notice the geometry in the background. A perfect circle, square and triangle: these shapes are also present in the cheetah as well. They represent the manmade and modern, this in contrast to the natural and primitive animal. ‘Speed’ has affected my life in several positive ways with my favorite being that it is my ambassador. It speaks for me and it communicates quite well. It says to the world that this is something different and that it’s worth paying attention to,” Tracy claims.
The surface of the human body fascinates Tracy and drives him to use it as a canvas because, “It’s alive and limitless in its potential. The three-dimensional aspect alone makes the human body exceptional to work on but it’s the fact that it’s alive and complex that really inspires me. The human body has a soul and endless curves. With limitless three-dimensional possibilities the human body is to a flat lifeless canvas what space is to our earth. Nothing comes close to the human body.”
“I allow my inspirations to come to me from all aspects of life and imagination. The natural world and the curves of the human body are my greatest inspirations. Sometimes I’ll see a certain curve on a body and I’ll feel compelled to explore it further with design and color. I love being free to explore as I wish without limits, restraints and conventional expectations. When I think about my good fortune I often break out into laughter and sometime blissful tears. I’m currently living inside of a dream and this dream is joyous and much appreciated,” Tracy mused. Swing by his new gallery at 509 Royal St., and you will understand why he feels this way!
