Tyler Shields, an American artist known for his provocative and audacious photography featuring acts of violence, was born on April 29, 1982.
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In June 2017, his work caused controversy when he captured comedian Kathy Griffin posing with a prop resembling the severed head of Donald Trump.
Shields, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, had a successful career in sports, competing professionally in vert inline skating. This included his participation in the X Games in 1999 and 2000, as well as a tour alongside Tony Hawk in 2003.
Fraser Kee Scott from A Gallery greatly influenced Shields’ photography journey. Shields credited Scott for discovering him on MySpace. His work gained public attention in 2009 when a photoshoot with The Vampire Diaries cast led to the arrest and charges of disorderly conduct for some members.
Shields’ photography has been showcased in numerous exhibitions. His 2016 photos of Colton Haynes and Emily Bett were featured in Vanity Fair. His 2015 series “Historical Fiction” included a picture of a black man hanging a KKK member, while his 2014 series, Provocateur, involved an alligator biting a crocodile bag. Critics, such as art critic Paddy Johnson and writer/photographer Jamie Lee Curtis Taete, have accused Shields of plagiarizing others’ ideas.
