MATTHEW CUNNINGTON
In 1987, Matt Cunnington found his interest piqued by the mention of a pink fish tattooed on the wrist of a character in Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The adventures of Sherlock Holmes”. This interest grew into an obsession, until in 1991 he began tattooing friends using jail style machines pieced together from the junk drawers of share houses in his native Brisbane.
In 1994 Matt travelled to Europe and began working for Bugs in Camden Town, London. It was here that his true tattoo education began. After two years he moved on to work with Alex Binnie and the history making crew at the infamous Into You.
The year 2000 saw Matt return to Brisbane and bring with him the unique and innovative approach to tattooing for which he has become known.
As the owner of Westside Tattoo for over 20 years, Matt created a safe space in which generations of Australian tattooers were able to hone their craft and go on to make their mark on Australian tattoo culture. A great number of the country’s most influential and renowned artists have worked under the Westside banner, taking inspiration from their fellow workmates and those who came before them. Most importantly, all left behind their mark on the culture, influence and reputation of the shop. It is this legacy that Matt is most proud of.
Matt works predominantly in the Japanese style. Bending and breaking the rules with equal measures of respect and wilful ignorance. His work is bold, irreverent, amusing but always thought provoking.
