Ed hardy biography tattoos of crosses

American tattoo artist (born 1945)

For people with a similar name, see Edward Hardy (disambiguation).

Don Ed Hardy (born 1945) is an American tattoo artist known for his tattoos, strong influence on the development of modern tattoo styles, and his eponymous brand.

Early life

Hardy was born on January 5, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa.^[1] He grew up in Corona del Mar, in Newport Beach, California.^[2] As a preteen a young Ed Hardy was interested in tattoos: one of his friends' fathers had Army tattoos, and it intrigued him so much that he took pens and colored pencils to draw on other neighborhood kids.^[3] Hardy also credits his mother, who supported his work and encouraged him to follow his passions.^[4]

Hardy had his first art exhibit at the Laguna Beach Art Festival after graduating from high school.^[4] He attended the San Francisco Art Institute and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking.^[5&#