How Matt McCormick Went from Tattooing Tyler the Creator to Making Fine Art

LA-based artist Matt McCormick, who designed the cover artwork for the issue, evokes this struggle to reconnect through his paintings of American heroes and cowboys. “It’s kind of like painting the world that I want to live in,” says McCormick. “It’s all based around getting to this place of mental freedom; it’s a series of so many pieces to get to that feeling of the quietness which for several years I took the shortcut with the drugs to do that…This is my way to feel at peace.”
When his career progressed beyond being a celebrity tattoo artist, McCormick’s style reflected his interest in classic American icons and the environments they inhabited. Far from a surface-level portrayal of these Old West figures, the artist’s personal experiences with substance abuse constantly impact his work. “I’m sober for a reason. I was a heroin addict for several years and the thing with heroin, and you know opiates and all that, in general, is that the state quiets everything … the reason I bring that up is because of the feeling that I’m chasing with all these different pieces,” he says.
We connected with McCormick at his studio in Downtown Los Angeles for the latest installment of HYPEBEAST Impressions. Watch the video above to see the entire visit with the artist.
Get to know more about unique contemporary artists beyond their artworks by checking out our HYPEBEAST Impressions series.

[@simeongalda5988]

I like how he talks, everything has value in it

[@staceycash1312]

And then he did the album cover for Don Toliver's heaven or hell

[@franciscocosta2328]

love this types of videos!!! great job!

[@gypsy-watson]

edit was fuego. dug the handheld work too (felt there)

[@jarjarlove22]

Wow this just popped up on my recommended but his story reminds me of mine glad to see him free from drug addiction!

[@JoshClarkson13]

All of these videos are beautiful and inspiring

[@jamesmurphy8629]

Matt does a really good lengthy interview on a channel called NotMostPeople. Definitely check them out if you like this

[@1239chris]

thanks

[@Jupiluxe]

Thank you!!

[@willhart8783]

everyone recognized Tyler's tattoo

[@ChrisCoombes]

2:23 Never seen that way of storing / displaying paint before!

[@brandonbest8940]

i connected with him on his stance on Green... Love it, but not using it in my own artwork

[@jackfirmin5814]

hope he stays sober

[@kaylasamano2442]

Yeah I felt this heavy

[@Itsgsun604]

That Marlboro is fuckin an amazing piece! Looks 3D!

[@tartar3198]

This is dope, I hope I can be featured some day

[@zicomitchell]

@hypebeast can you please add song names to the artist names as well pls

[@parzival92]

you could turn the title around and it would be just as impressive

[@jaeykun5598]

Art Fine Making to Creator the Tyler Tattooing From Went McCormick Matt How

[@parzival92]

@@jaeykun5598 perfection

[@lucerovaladezjuanmanuel9672]

Amazing. 🏁

[@shrimpeedo1]

Matt is such an inspiration

[@Jupiluxe]

Didn't know he did the mac tattoo, that's dope.

[@beanbramley8048]

Love this guys art

[@neurodivergentdad_]

Solid dude.

[@bramcopermans7494]

Make a more in depth/longer one!!

[@strawberryjpeg6000]

Not Most People thankyou

[@bramcopermans7494]

Not Most People Thanks man!

[@bauifredricks2233]

Love this dude!

[@charleswilliams7128]

i need those birkenstocks

[@AustinPritchard]

where is the music at the end from?

[@876LND]

Insightful- black dress

[@matthewsuggett9910]

There are a few unreleased songs of mine that will be released in a few months

[@heinblues]

respect.

[@frida9753]

what a beautiful man

[@Star-lo9cf]

Who is the woman at 0:42?

[@strawberryjpeg6000]

Damnnn

[@cymonfaller]

I clicked because i want to see his dogs

[@poljp9563]

Cool shit

[@lacosvantner4242]

wow

[@potatopotatoeOG]

I came for the dogs, stayed for him

[@Ilikeboobies4real]

I follow this dude on Instagram

[@franciscog1498]

MAc millers brother! surprised they didnt mention that

[@fentonmh]

not mac miller's brother, his brother is Miller McCormick

[@grodytoadstoolz220]

@@fentonmh Miller McCormick

[@el_mas_mafioso]

Richard Prince Cowboys

[@peterparks9435]

Yeah definitely see the influence.

[@ian_fender]

nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana

[@Iba0001]

@notmostpeople already did this and it was much better, B for effort

[@honefone]

whats up face ! your voice is different?

[@Insightfuluno]

Honored to have my music on this piece. He's worked with so many artists I look up to. Find more of my music here > insightful.uno :)

[@ct-ef6wx]

Not feeling the title man, tattooing tyler is like a milestone already. Its like these titles usually are like a minus to a plus but this is just a plus plus. You feel me?

[@PF9O]

Does that suggest Tyler isn't fine art?

[@babytanjiro9495]

Fr

[@davidfinley8777]

Gave it a like, but for real I didn’t fuck with the cigarette ad painting and shitty tattoos

[@wrinklylips6283]

As a Fine Artist, he isn't that great, just because fine art is probably one of the few art forms that can be judged and arranged in whatever order one deems right.

[@joshuapineda394]

WRINKLY LIPS well look at u and look at him only one of you gotta interview for hypebeast and doing album covers for big artists

[@oisinosborne2852]

I have to agree but as long as it brings him happiness and is making a living then more power to him. To me his work is very much in the realm of high school art that more concerned about painting a pretty picture that an interesting painting that will engaged with the viewer and make them think. Also if he loosened up a bit and didn't always use an image as his source material and instead used a model he could be a lot better. To each there own.

[@oisinosborne2852]

@@joshuapineda394 That's besides the point wrinkly lips is making he made a comment on the artist art work saying its very middle of the road in that there is noting distinctive about it. Art is subjective but when it comes to art artists look at art differently that non artists. To an artist a good painting is not about how much the piece is worth it about what feels does the work evoke through colour, texture and line.

[@joshuapineda394]

Oisin Osborne the guy puts himself on a pedestal as a “fine artist” yet i dont see the reason to call him bad at his craft he is obviously happy and hard working to make his passion a career i just sense jealousy

[@wrinklylips6283]

@@joshuapineda394 I'm not a fine artist and know of many 12 year olds who are capable of doing what he is doing. All I was trying to point out was that he has got to where he is know using his contacts, celebs, clients whatever you want to call them. Trying to highlight the importance of having a prosperous contact list.

[@coconutyogurt3922]

they make tyler the creator sound like a nobody in the title

[@PLNKYELLOWBLACK]

No they made it go from his original peak of tattooing famous people like Tyler to his current peak of art

[@babayega1717]

So tattoing couldn't possibly be a fine art is what you're saying? Did i get that right?

[@rickyrios3001]

Hes an illustrator not a fine artist

[@felixdeckers8863]

That's a really fine line

[@Glopez6490]

Not really

[@Dappis]

honestly these distinctions are completely pointless, "fine art" is a dumbass bourgeoisie concept anyways. Art is art

[@rickyrios3001]

50% technique + 50%concept + a body of work that ties it up together with the same style = fine art

[@Dappis]

@@rickyrios3001 you really bringing precentages into art? Just don't

[@superstarstatus1]

How to use tyler, the creators name for extra popularity.

[@PLNKYELLOWBLACK]

Or how he went from being of’s tattoo artist to an artist because there’s literally a whole part that shows that he worked with him for years and that was his original high point.

[@Jay-fq8uz]

Dope art but his tattoos were average

[@Chikistherussiantoy]

his art aint that good

[@johnsmithington3167]

Fine Art? Why that distinction? And seems more like Street Art to me, is it that its on a canvas? Oh its hypebeast, cause its not sneakers or an appropriated red box logo.

[@heelturnsface]

He went to fine art by tattooing Tyler the Creator. No need to ask how. It’s crazy, the only thing that will give a person a push nowadays is a rub from a celebrity. It’s like how there are a million talented shoemakers and designers, but everyone just wants Kanye West’s stolen garbage designs.

[@obsoecamel8425]

Jawanna Man what you mean this is Mac millers brother he was already poppin before Tyler

[@PLNKYELLOWBLACK]

obsoe Camel that’s Miller McCormick hence why his name was “Mac Miller”

[@emcee1337]

so ... he is an alcoholic now ...

[@frsr416]

stop

[@matthewthomas7191]

I'm sorry you want to live in a world of cowboys? do you have any idea what cowboys really did? I think you need to be more aware of the culture you're creating especially from your place of privilege...

[@poljp9563]

Cool shit