Groundbreaking blood-wielding surrealist VINCENT CASTIGLIA has been turning heads with his shocking, detailed art painted in human blood for the past several years, but this year, Castiglia turns to a new medium to transform his creativity into reality.
This past Saturday at NAMM 2016, Castiglia and Slayer/Exodus guitarist Gary Holt officially revealed a custom-painted Gary Holt signature ESP electric guitar (original signature guitar here), detailed completely with Holt’s very own blood. The blood was drawn from Holt backstage after a Slayer show on Long Island, NY. Castiglia collected 18 vials, all of which were used on the guitar.
Aside from marking Castiglia’s first use of a guitar as his canvas, this is the first time a guitar has ever been painted entirely in its player’s own blood. The guitar is not currently for sale and is not yet in production – this is currently an original, one-run design!
Vincent Castiglia offers the background story on how the production of this guitar came about, “While working on his torso piece, my client and friend Brian Werner (vocalist of Vital Remains) suggested the possibility to me. I thought about the logistics, whether it would be possible or not, and figured hey, if I’ve been able to take my paintings and medium as far as I have already on canvas, why not do it on a guitar body? After some trial, and some extra preparation, it all worked out perfectly, and this guitar actually became what I’d cite to be one of my favorite, most detailed works to date. I pushed it as far as was physically possible in terms of detail. The subject matter, look and feel, and functionality of the piece are all in perfect line with my work.
The piece is historical in that, to my knowledge (or the knowledge of Google) this is the first functional guitar in human history to have been created entirely in the musician’s blood. That puts it in a unique position, as it’s a functional piece of fine art that memorializes Gary Holt’s life’s work with his lifeblood, my mind and hands having been the vessel for its creation. It was an honor to work so intimately with Gary Holt and ESP on this project, which was literally, “Bonded By Blood”.”
Guitarist Gary Holt adds, “It was very exciting to finally be able to reveal the “blood guitar” painted with 18 vials of my own blood at this year’s NAMM! This Vincent Castiglia original is the first of its kind. This weekend was also my first look at it in the flesh so to say I was stoked is an understatement! Looking forward to taking this one of a kind piece of dark art out on tour in February!”
ESP Director of Artist Relations and Product Management Chris Cannella adds, “When this whole project came up, I was excited at the idea. I was already a fan of Vincent Castiglia’s work as an artist and tattooist, but this was something I was cautious of. Was it going to be another gimmick of blood in the ink, etc.? Blood drips or something easy to do? When I saw this come to fruition my jaw dropped! Such beautiful detail and accuracy!
This guitar will not be for sale as it was just finished just for Gary Holt, but we wanted to show it at the booth at NAMM with Gary and Vincent to tell the story best. I am sure people’s minds were blown even as it is not yet assembled.”
VINCENT CASTIGLIA is the first American artist to receive a solo exhibition invitation from Oscar Award-winning artist H.R. Giger in the history of the H. R. Giger Museum Gallery. Vincent’s art has been praised by fellow artists, musicians, and other notables throughout his career.
“With such precise technique, his depiction of human musculature is nothing short of outstanding.”
– Paul Booth / World-renowned Tattooist, Artist, Gallery Owner, Fanatical Nihilist
“If the body is the temple, then the heart is the altar and the blood is the sacred flame that enlightens the shrine. Vincent is painting with holy light.” – Martin Eric Ain / Musician, Celtic Frost
“The ominous truth that his art confronts, along with the exquisiteness in which it is portrayed, provides a timeless revelation into human existence.” – Joe Sopkowics, Forensic Photographer
In the privacy of his studio, VINCENT CASTIGLIA practices a kind of modern-day phlebotomy, siphoning the life force which contains his own psychic energy, while giving it an outlet and form. In doing so, he dissolves the barrier between artist and art in a most literal and immediate sense. Vincent’s figures, their musculature and skin, are painted with what could be thought of as “liquid flesh”. Its tendency to quicken the subjects is likely inapproachable by any other medium—as it is actual tissue with which it is being rendered. In this way the subject’s realism is not merely an optical illusion due to its level of detail, but rather is an actual transference of flesh and blood to each work.
VINCENT CASTIGLIA‘s impressive work has seen many sides of the entertainment world, as well. MTV New Media’s Horror-Slasher Film, Savage County, featured his art as its official movie poster, depicting the three murderers in the film. Prior to the film, Vincent painted album art for heavy metal band Triptykon‘s 2010 debut release, Eparistera Daimones.Triptykon is founded by former Hellhammer / Celtic Frostsinger and guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer. Vincent also painted the DVD cover for Fangoria Presents film, Corpsing.
His work has been featured on The National Geographic Channel (NatGeo), FOX News, CNBC, BBC, New York 1 News, Spike TV, The Discovery Channel, and The Science Channel. Castiglia was also recently a guest on the Jay Thomas Show on Sirius XM Radio. His work has been explored by countless art and culture publications, in the US and internationally, including the New York Post, New York Daily News, The Huffington Post, Art Business News, International Business Times, Bizarre Magazine, as well as Lexikon Der Phantastischen Künstler “The international encyclopedia of fantastic, surrealistic, symbolist, & visionary artists”. He was also recently awarded “Tattoo Artist of the Year” in ThisisHorror.uk‘s “This Is Horror Awards 2012”.
His work hangs in many distinguished collections internationally, among them, the collection of Rock legend Gregg Allman. Vincent’s paintings have been exhibited at museums and galleries in the US, and internationally, including CoproGallery, (Santa Monica, California), Last Rites Gallery (New York) The Museum of Sex (New York), The Museum Of Porn In Art, (Switzerland), The HR Giger Museum Gallery, (Switzerland), , The Mall Gallery (London, England) Canvas Los Angeles (Los Angeles California), Fuse Gallery (New York), Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (Ft. Myers, Florida), Art @ Large Gallery (New York) Gallery Lombardi (Austin Texas), L’imagerie Gallery (Hollywood, California), Museo De La Cuidad De Mexico, (Mexico), C-Pop Gallery (Detroit, Michigan), Shooting Gallery (San Francisco, CA), Seed Gallery (Newark, New Jersey), The 7th Annual Dirty Show (Detroit, Michigan), as well as The Congregation Gallery (Hollywood, California).
For more information on VINCENT CASTIGLIA, please visit www.vincentcastigliaart.com.
