Pierre's explanation of why he turned from drawing to collage, completely sums it up for me, and I am sure many others. "I loved it. It was fast, expressive, and it allowed me to do anything I absolutely wanted." It makes sense that his move to New York would align with a new found interest in cut and paste--they are both similarly a fresh way of looking at things, and at the same time fast and exciting!

Pierre Botardo
pierrebotardo.com, pierrebotardo.tumblr.com
I'm originally from Virginia Beach, VA but I've been living in Brooklyn, NY for a few years now.

Describe your work in 10 words or less.

"Just talking over cigarettes and drinking coffee." - Otis Redding

What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!

I like to work with vintage LIFE and National Geographic magazines. They always seem to have interesting gestures, colors, and photos. The vintage books I choose are usually pretty random. I always flip through them first. I like to have an idea of what I can use and how much of it.

How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?

Truthfully, I haven't been making collages for that long. Before, I was really into fine line pen and ink drawings and very much into Albrect Durer's work. I never thought I had the mindset to even approach collage work. I think my time in New York really began to take it's toll. Tensions began to build up more and more and drawing wasn't allowing me get anything out. I experimented with collage work and American Traditional tattoo flash for a bit, but I still felt restricted.

One morning, I kind of woke up and just started to go at it. I had this beautiful paper a close friend of mine from Virginia gave me before I moved here, and just used that to glue the images on. I think I knocked out a few pieces in a matter of a few hours that day. I loved it. It was fast, expressive, and it allowed me to do anything I absolutely wanted.

Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?

Haha...I'd love to be. in a perfect world, I would...I still tattoo, but I've been concentrating on the collage work a lot more. I find it more enjoyable. I've also been working at a clothing store called Unis. If there's anything I learned in NY, it's that most people here need multiple jobs.

Do you have any formal art training?

I studied digital illustration at Virginia Commonwealth University and have always been interested design work.

Explain your favourite techniques.

I'm not really too positive what to write here. I just enjoy finding the images, cutting them out, and composing them.

Describe your favourite piece ever created.

I think it's a toss up between "It's Lonely Where You Live" and "3 Headed". They both just strike me. I think "It's Lonely..." really expresses a direct mood with its colors and imagery, and "3 Headed" really portrays this sort of dark and awkward sense.

What other artists do you admire?

I'm still a huge fan of Albrecht Durer, but since I've started this kind of work, I've been really into James Gallagher, Jesse Treece, Billy Mavreas, and JP King.

Thanks Pierre!