Paul Booth has been a renowned figure in the world of dark surrealist art for almost four decades.

For nearly four decades, Paul Booth has stood at the crossroads of dark surrealism, gothic artistry, and countercultural defiance, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in contemporary alternative art. A multidisciplinary force—fine artist, tattooist, sculptor, filmmaker, and musician—Booth has forged a singular visual language that explores the macabre, the psychological, and the taboo, confronting the shadowed recesses of the human condition.

Booth’s early work emerged from a deeply personal need to give form to internal chaos—his canvases, both literal and metaphorical, became conduits for themes of torment, mental illness, psychosis, and trauma. This fearless engagement with the darker dimensions of experience earned him acclaim not only in subcultural circles but also recognition from prestigious institutions such as the National Arts Club, one of the United States' oldest and most respected artistic organizations.

In the 1990s, Booth’s aesthetic—visceral, haunting, and instantly recognizable—catapulted him into the cultural mainstream. His client roster reads like a who's who of heavy music and performance: Slayer, Pantera, Slipknot, Lamb of God, Sepultura, Cradle of Filth, and WWE icons such as The Undertaker and Aleister Black. Through this exposure, Booth became one of the most iconic tattoo artists of his generation, helping to redefine tattooing as a legitimate form of high art.

His influence extended beyond skin. Booth’s Last Rites Tattoo Theatre & Gallery, a three-story Gothic landmark in Manhattan, operated as both a working studio and immersive gallery space. Each room was a portal into his twisted imagination—an installation of darkness and devotion that reflected his lifelong mission to elevate the macabre to the realm of fine art. The Last Rites brand, founded in the late 1980s, expanded into fashion, jewelry, home décor, and beyond, establishing Booth as a creative entrepreneur whose aesthetic vision transcends medium.

Throughout his career, Booth’s work has been featured in publications ranging from Rolling Stone to Forbes, and his art has exhibited internationally to critical acclaim. His oil paintings, particularly in recent years, have grappled with themes of apocalypse and control—most notably addressing the social, psychological, and political upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the idea of disease as a weaponized mechanism of state power and cultural submission.

Despite a years-long waiting list and a half-million-strong social media following, Paul Booth remains elusive—more cult icon than celebrity, more oracle than artist. What unites his projects, from tattoo to canvas to celluloid, is a relentless pursuit of authenticity and an unflinching willingness to confront the abyss.

His next move, like the man himself, is shrouded in mystery. But one thing is certain: it will not be silent, and it will not be safe.