Shelflife Artist Tee Series: 15 'Matt Oldfield'
We are proud to present the second artist featured in our 2023 Artist Tee Series, who is not only incredibly talented but someone we are lucky enough to call a long-time friend of Shelflife- Matt Oldfield!
Tattoo connoisseur, visual artist (and sometimes clothing designer)- we sat down with Matt ahead of the 'Shelflife Artist Tee 15' drop, to find out about his affinity for creativity since he was young and the inspirations that keep pushing him as an artist.
SL: Who are you and where are you from?
MO: My name is Matthew Oldfield.
I was born in Durban and raised in Cape Town.
I am a tattoo artist currently working at Tomb Tattoos.
SL: How did you get into tattooing? Tell us about your journey.
MO: I’ve always been drawn to tattoos and knew from a young age I wanted to be a part of the culture.
I started getting tattooed in my teens and after a few years, and many more tattoo appointments, I found an opportunity to be an apprentice at Wildfire Tattoos which was on Long Street. I built my craft tattooing friends after hours and doing what walk-in’s I could get. I’ve since worked at a few shops around Cape Town and found my place at Tomb.
SL: Name 3 of your favourite influences at the moment.
MO: Three things that I’m constantly pulling inspiration from for the feeling that they embody are:
Tattoo artists from 1980’s L.A.; I’ve always loved the feeling their designs captured from the kind of hopeless romantic to the harder biker flash.
Unomoralez is a Moscow based pixel artist whose work has a great goth/punk aesthetic. He works with a high level of contrast - again I’m really drawn to the feeling and mood his images convey.
Finally it has to be music. If I could use two songs to describe my work they would be ‘A Perfect Girl’-Mareux and ‘True Blue’- Dirty Beaches.
SL: If you could work with any artist in the world who would it be and why?
MO: Not an artist but a brand I would like to collaborate with would be BMW. I have a deep love for local car culture and the South African icon the e30 325is ‘Gusheshe’ is a dream car for sure. I’ve often referenced the brand in my personal designs and would be honoured to work with them.
SL: Tell us a little bit about your work history and what you are currently up to at present.
MO: Through tattooing I’ve had the pleasure of doing large scale back pieces, to doing a guest spot in Hong Kong. I’m constantly in awe at the ride this career is taking me on. Apart from tattooing I’m building on my personal brand by designing clothing here and there and working on my own art. I enjoy pushing myself to develop my own distinct design style and brand.
SL: One piece of advice for anyone starting out as a tattoo artist today?
MO: If you are serious about tattooing work with established artists who do varying styles. The knowledge you will gain from working with others in that environment is invaluable.
Shelflife Artist Tee 15 'Matt Oldfield'
R549
S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Dropping Saturday the 18th of August, in-store and online!
Stay tuned for the 'Shelflife Artist Tee Series' 16 & 17 coming soon!