Pen & Paper: Tristan Eaton

The latest artist in our ongoing Pen & Paper series is Tristan Eaton, a man who has spanned the realms of graffiti, toy design and contemporary art in the last 20 years. Hailing from Los Angeles, Eaton was raised on a diet of comic books, graffiti and skateboard culture. Using art as an escape from run-ins with the law, Eaton honed his craft on the streets, spending his teenage years painting everything from walls to billboards. At the young age of 18, Eaton designed his first toy for Fisher Price, and has since become a force in the urban designer toy market — producing a slew of enticing designs under the Kidrobot imprint such as the Dunny and Munny toys series.

Eaton’s work has become emblematic in the ever-changing definition of “street art.” Pivoted by the myriad of cultures and characters he’s crossed in his travels, Eaton blends his inspirations with a whirlpool of color to create striking artworks shown across the world. We caught up with the prolific artist during his visit to Hong Kong’s Above Second, where he showcased a body of work dedicated to fading memories of human connection titled Changing the Subject. Enjoy Tristan Eaton’s Pen & Paper here and stay updated with his work via his webpage and Instagram.