Book of Arms (Aka Tentacles)

Tai is an American/Samoan artist creating works with inspiration fueled by music and the nostalgic memories of his turbulent teenage years.

In the early 80’s, growing up bi-racial in a predominantly white suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah, Tai was primed to self-identify as an outcast. Tormented with cultural identity angst at such a young age, he was fortunate to discover that the arts were a perfect way to express his frustrations. Through his artistic explorations he realized his auto-didactic ability, which evolved into experimentation with nearly every type of art-form, including graffiti and tattoo work, but no medium has captured and retained his affections as strongly as drawing with a ballpoint pen, so that has been his central focus for most of his artistic career.
His persistent drive to provide thought-provoking content has helped to develop a dedicated following of over half-a-million members on Facebook and Instagram and played a critical role in his international success, helping to sell thousands of his original artworks worldwide. For over a decade he has toured the globe with his wife and two children, demonstrating the versatility of ballpoint pen through the trafficking of his artwork at galleries, museums and art fairs.

At the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tai’s travel and show schedule was completely wiped out. He utilized the time off to finish a nearly 7-year total rehab project, turning an 1851 pre-civil war home into his own studio & gallery, with rentable Air BNB apartment loft, in America’s hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. With pandemic shutdowns, physical galleries that carry Tai’s work across the world, were forced to close, prompting him to develop new hustles, including his Book of Arms, remote drawing classes (#DrinkAndDrawWithTai), and he has also recently launched a podcast/YouTube web series called #DOD45 (Drawing Over Discussions) where he interviews special guests for 45 minutes while drawing a picture for them. Past guests have included Sage Francis, Ceschi, Ron Allen, B.Dolan, Carlos Condit, Cas-One, Illogic, Moodie Black, Awol One, DJ Hoppa, Factor Chandelier, Teresa Sharpe, Greg Lutzka, Mr. Dibbs & Slug of Atmosphere.