Devon Blood - Artist and Book Talk

Keep Laughing by Devon Blood

At twenty-six, Devon Blood was on the cusp of change. A tattoo artist rising through the ranks of the Oakland, post-Y2K underground arts scene, a dedicated skateboarder, and devoted boyfriend. One fateful night in 2006, that was shattered when a botched home invasion and robbery left him with a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head. The cumulative result of that night resulted first in a series of medical miracles – Blood recovering inexplicably from a coma, managing severe hemiparesis and atrophy on the dominant side of his body, and continuing to suffer to this day from after-effects of the invading bullet resting on his brainstem. Then, a series of remarkable triumphs – Blood learning to tattoo and expand his artistic skills cultivating his left side, publishing a book about his experiences, and developing an entirely new portfolio based on his newfound aesthetic.

Today, Mr. Blood is the proud father of two, a featured story for Vans during their Pass the Bucket campaign, more recently the subject of a Hearst Television special featured on their subsidiary KCRA Channel 3 Sacramento, and a rising talent in the modern art world. His book chronicling his journey is Keep Laughing, co-written with Alex Turan and available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Laughing-Devon-Blood/dp/0615498426

If you would like your copy of Keep Laughing signed by Devon Blood, please purchase the book before this event on Amazon, using the link above.

This event is free and open to the public (including free parking).

My name is Devon Blood. Third generation San Franciscan. I grew up in a working-class family, with a strong, single mother, and seven siblings. Things were tough, but what made it tougher was my struggle with undiagnosed OCD. This condition is the framework of my whole life, during my highest highs and lowest lows. It's the one thing that's never left me, not when my best friend died, not when I survived a near-fatal shooting protecting my girlfriend, not when I learned how to tattoo and paint with the left side of my body after suffering hemiparesis. This exhibit is the culmination of my experiences, good times and bad, and of the journey through some of my greatest dreams and worst nightmares. It's a twisted tribute to my firm conviction in life that no matter who you are, or what you're going through, you have to stay up, stay strong, and above all else - keep laughing. This is the Intrusive Thoughts exhibition. It marks a particularly personal chapter in my life, and I hope you enjoy it, maybe even reflecting on your own experience through something that challenged you.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Triton Museum of Art, 1505 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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