About the Artist
A. Owen Layne is a Metro-Detroit based photographer who has a strong presence in the Detroit
Art-scene. His work is most recognized as being thematic, whimsical, smarmy and
at times randomly poignant. He works in extremes varying from PG-rated portraits
to all levels of Erotic art forms.
"All I'm trying to do is tell a story. Some do it in books, some in movies, some in song. I tell it in a photo. I want my work to make people do a double take. They can laugh, they can cringe or even blush, I don't mind. I just want them to look. And react."
When he's not taking pictures of the world through his smirking eye, A. Owen Layne gathers local and internationally known artists, and co-curates specialized exhibitions with them. Working with numerous artists and agents over the years, he has helped grace Detroit with the likes of Alien surrealist HR Giger, rocker Marilyn Manson, Leonard 'Spock' Nimoy, and the late entertainer Marcel Marceau.
Over the past 10 years he has been an integral part of over 50 independent gallery exhibitions, most notably the historic Scarab Club Emerging Artist Series, the DAMNED Exhibition, the Detroit Dirty Show and the tattoo-themed INK Exhibition.
"All I'm trying to do is tell a story. Some do it in books, some in movies, some in song. I tell it in a photo. I want my work to make people do a double take. They can laugh, they can cringe or even blush, I don't mind. I just want them to look. And react."
When he's not taking pictures of the world through his smirking eye, A. Owen Layne gathers local and internationally known artists, and co-curates specialized exhibitions with them. Working with numerous artists and agents over the years, he has helped grace Detroit with the likes of Alien surrealist HR Giger, rocker Marilyn Manson, Leonard 'Spock' Nimoy, and the late entertainer Marcel Marceau.
Over the past 10 years he has been an integral part of over 50 independent gallery exhibitions, most notably the historic Scarab Club Emerging Artist Series, the DAMNED Exhibition, the Detroit Dirty Show and the tattoo-themed INK Exhibition.
Exhibition History
Creative Highlights:
• INK.² Exhibition Co-curator (2015)
• Co-curator of the Scarab Club’s Emerging Artist Showcase program (2012-2014)
• Former seat on the Board of Directors of the Scarab Club (2013-2014)
• INK. Exhibition Co-curator (2013)
• DAMNED Exhibition, Special Guest Artist Co-curator (2008-2013)
• Dirty Show, Special Guest Artist Co-curator (2007-2010)
• Midwest Society of Erotic Photographers (2007-2009)
• Streetwise Art - private art brokerage and exhibition company (2007-2023)
• Who Arted? Exhibition Co-curator (2007)
Featured Publications:
2018 - Metro Times - Photographer Promo for Satori Circus Choir Event
2016 - ZIPR - Art & Culture Magazine - Issue 9
2014 - Photographer and co-creator of the Satori Circus 2015 Cirquettes Calendar
2012 - Photographer and co-creator of the Satori Circus 2012 Cirquettes Calendar
2012 - Scarab Arts Annual: Volume 4, ISBN 978-1300208945
2011 - Scarab Arts Annual: Volume 3, ISBN 978-1105201745
2011 - Visions of Eros: A Midwest Perspective, ISBN 978-1257085279 – cover artist
2008 - Black & White Spider Awards – Honor nominee in Nude : Amateur Category
Featured Exhibitions:
2023 - Dirty Show 23, Detroit, MI
2019 - DAMNED 12 @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit MI
2018 - DAMNED 11 @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit MI
2018 - Satori Circus 30th Anniversary Show @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit MI
2018 - Dirty Show 19, Detroit, MI
2018 - Breaking Borders "Sci-Fi" @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2017 - DAMNED 10 @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit MI
2017 - Clowns Don't Kill People @ Atomic Cafe Gallery, Hamtramck, MI
2017 - Breasts. An Art Exhibit of Form and Function @ The Public Works, San Francisco, CA
2017 - Dirty Show 18, Detroit, MI
2017 - Breaking Borders "Taboo" @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2016 - Winter Gallery IV - Venus Rising @ Tattoo Nouveau, Lake Orion, MI
2016 - DAMNED IX @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2016 - Dark Star Tattoo & Art Gallery (Summer and Autumn Exhibitions), Vancouver, WA
2016 - REJECTED @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2016 - Dirty Show 17, Detroit, MI
2016 - Breaking Borders "Spellbound" @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2015 - DAMNED VII @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2015 - Tarot Art Show: Beautiful Death @ Future Gallery, Lake Orion, MI
2015 - When Humor Met Eros @ Atomic Cafe Gallery, Hamtramck, MI
2015 - A Rose is a Rose @ River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, MI
2015 - Corpus Illuminata V @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2015 - Breaking Borders "Elements" @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2015 - INK.² Exhibition @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2015 - The Selfie Show @ Museum of New Art, Troy, MI
2015 - The Erotica Ball, Detroit MI
2015 - Dirty Show 16, Detroit, MI
2015 - The Sexuality Show II @ Phoenix Café, Hazel Park, MI
2015 - Breaking Borders "Fantasy" @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - Krampus Night IV @ Atomic Cafe, Hamtramck, MI
2014 - Winter Gallery III @ Tattoo Nouveau, Lake Orion, MI
2014 - DAMNED VII @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - Breaking Borders @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - Scarab Club Silver Medal Exhibit, Detroit, MI
2014 - The Erotica Ball, Detroit MI
2014 - 100 Postcards for Human Rights @ Alexi Era Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2014 - Purgatory IV @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - Little Black Helicopters @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - Refacing the Dollar Bill @ Phoenix Café, Hazel Park, MI
2014 - Scarab Club Blooms, Bugs & Beasts Exhibit, Detroit, MI
2014 - Corpus Illuminata IV @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2014 - The Bees Knees: 100 Postcards for Honey Bees @ Alexi Era Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2014 - Dirty Show 15, Detroit, MI
2013 - Scarab Club Gold Medal Show, Detroit, MI
2013 - Small Wonders @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2013 - Purgatory III @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2013 - Ink. @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2013 - The Black, White and Red Show @ The Funhouse Gallery, Detroit, MI
2013 - Scarab Club Silver Medal Show, Detroit, MI
2013 - Pinup Art & Variety Show @ Phoenix Café, Hazel Park, MI
2013 - Dark Visions IV @ Collingwood Arts Center, Toledo, OH
2013 - Dirty Show 14, Detroit, MI
2012 - Scarab Club Gold Medal Show, Detroit, MI
2012 - Scarab Club Emerging Artist Solo Show, Detroit, MI
2012 - Inaugural Group Exhibition, Ferndale Public Library, Ferndale, MI
2012 - DAMNED V: An Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness, Detroit, MI
2012 - Poisoned Apples @ The Funhouse Gallery, Detroit, MI
2012 - Odditorium Detroit @ District VII, Detroit, MI
2012 - Victorian Steampunk Exhibition @ District VII, Detroit, MI
2012 - Scarab Club Blooms, Bugs & Beasts Exhibit, Detroit, MI
2012 - Seattle Erotic Arts Festival, Seattle, WA
2012 - Purgatory II @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2012 - 10” or Less Exhibit @ Antebellum Gallery, Hollywood, CA
2012 - Dirty Show 13, Detroit, MI
2011 - Scarab Club Gold Medal Show, Detroit, MI
2011 - Noche de los Muertos @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2011 - FILTH II @ Club Inferno, Madison, WI
2011 - DAMNED IV: An Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness, Detroit, MI
2011 - The Erotic Postcard: Erotica in Miniature, Toledo, OH
2011 - Victorian Opulence @ District VII, Detroit, MI
2011 - The Sexuality Show @ the Phoenix, Hazel Park, MI
2011 - Uninhibited, Eaton Rapids, MI
2011 - Dirty Show 12, Detroit, MI
2010 - Detroit Pin-ups & Hot Rods Extravaganza @ District VII, Detroit, MI
2010 - Cock Art Exhibition, Madison, WI
2010 - Purgatory I @ Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
2010 - FILTH I @ Club Inferno, Madison, WI
2010 - DAMNED III: An Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness, Detroit, MI
2010 - Dirty Show 11, Detroit, MI
2009 - Dirty Show LA, Los Angeles, CA
2009 - Dirty Show 10.5, Detroit, MI
2009 - DAMNED II: A Macabre Fine Art Exhibition, Detroit, MI
2009 - Marquis de Sade, Pontiac, Michigan
2009 - The Seduction of Art @ CPOP Gallery, Detroit, MI
2009 - Peoples Arts Festival (a Streetwise Art exhibition), Detroit, MI
2009 - Dirty Show 10, Detroit, MI
2008 - Images We Love @ the River's Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, MI
2008 - DAMNED: A Macabre Fine Art Exhibition, Detroit, MI
2008 - The ICON Show @ the River’s Edge Gallery, Wyandotte, MI
2008 - Peoples Arts Festival (a MWSEP exhibition), Detroit, MI
2008 - Dirty Show 9, Detroit, MI
2007 - Who Arted? @ Clutch Cargos, Pontiac, MI
2007 - Dirty Show 8, Detroit, MI
2006 - Dirty Show 7.5, Detroit, MI
2006 - Dirty Show 7, Detroit, MI
2005 - Dirty Show 6, Detroit, MI
2004 - Dirty Show 5, Detroit, MI