Katie Zuppann: You’re known for your psychedelic use of colors and imagery. Why are you drawn to monsters and demons?

Skinner: I grew up on a healthy diet of Jack Kirby comics and Ray Harryhausen films and then just navigated my mind towards mythology and occult folklore through my youth…and I definitely have been inspired by cultures whose art aesthetic and spiritual divinations stem from the usage of psychedelic drugs/ plants/ fungi.

Your work is very intricate. Did you go to art school, or are you self-taught?

Hate to say it but I’m self-taught. I went to CCAC for about 3 weeks when I was in high school but could not force myself to go back after so many hours of still life studies. The teachers were interesting though; like they should have been in a David Lynch film.

You live in Sacramento, California, a place close to SF but not singularly known for its pulsing culture. Why do you choose to stay in Sac? What do you like and dislike about it?

Sacramento is interesting because it has all the artists, bands, performance art, and skate board culture you could want but it doesn’t have the infrastructure to support it. The local government here, as well as many of the people in charge of Sacramento’s cultural “face,” are way more interested in upholding a standard of old timey style fun; even if that means closing down music and art venues to make way for more “metropolitan” loft housing. There is no real interest in listening to the voice of the community because it doesn’t have money attached to it.
I continue to live here because I built a really nice and comfortable house as well as an even bigger art studio on some land I got some subsidy for. They put up some money if I would build it. It’s very custom and I can leave someday if I want…I like to be able to put in time uninterrupted. When I want to party, I cruise down the hill and hang out in SF.

What is your favorite piece of artwork you’ve made? if it could talk, what would it say?

Recently I finished a 6 ft by 4 ft piece for the Minna show I just had. If it had a voice it would say….”Let our scaled genitalia rejoice these moments of terror. Whence our backs scrape the sky and our blood poison the earth…this world we devour, this doomed moment of triumph!” …or some shit like that…

You donated two stunning pieces to the Juxtapoz 15th Anniversary Auction. Why are you so generous and why did you choose the pieces you did?

Actually while I was in Europe I had Gabe (of 111 Minna Gallery) get those to you. What the hell did he give you? Son of a bitch! Shit I hope it helps somebody! Or I mean, I like to help no matter what! That’s just the kind of guy I am.

Make sure to keep updated on the Juxtapoz 15th Anniversary Auction at www.juxtapoz.com/auction




 

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