Update (2024): It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Joshua Carlton, a beloved artist and a pillar of the tattoo community, in 2024. Joshua’s incredible talent, dedication, and unwavering passion left an indelible mark on everyone he touched. He will always hold a special place in the World Famous Family, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists around the globe. Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this time. For more information, please visit his personal websiteOpens a new window.
Joshua Carlton was a tattoo artist full-time for nearly 30 years. His father was an artist and he grew up with an appreciation for art and photography. Joshua was a valuable extension of our World Famous family and a friend to many in the industry. He was incredibly generous and shared his knowledge to help countless artists learn and grow over the course of his career. Joshua Carlton was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and we wanted to do what we could to help him and his family during this difficult time. Being self-employed, like many tattoo artists, Joshua didn't have access to health insurance during this time.
Our goal was to raise $25,000 to help support Joshua, his wife Nicole, and their two children in their fight against this monster so many of us have been affected by. World Famous and the Body Art Alliance matched that $25,000, bringing the total donation to $50,000!
More About Joshua:
Joshua produced multiple videos on his techniques and wrote a best-selling book ‘Advanced Tattooing Techniques; A Guide to Realism’. He also developed a passion for playing guitar and oil painting, which shaped his skills for impeccable detail in his realism tattoos. He played guitar in his band Chiaroscuro from 2008-2011, then joined This Patch of Sky after he moved to Oregon in 2011. He and his wife Nichole had two children, Penelope and Elliot.
Joshua underwent six weeks of chemo and radiation as well as a major surgery, called an esophagectomy, eight weeks after the treatments. The surgery consisted of removing two-thirds of his esophagus as well as a third of his stomach then constructing a new esophagus with part of his remaining stomach. The expected recovery from the surgery was intense. Joshua was not able to work through treatment and recovery, as his immune system was too compromised for the close contact that tattooing requires, and it caused extreme lethargy. Although it was a long road ahead, Joshua was determined to persevere. We want to wrap this up with Joshua’s personal motto ‘A Rising Tide Raises All Ships.’
Please join us in celebrating Joshua and supporting his wife Nichole and their two children, who will forever remain parts of the World Famous Family.
