Tag! Irv’s It

BY AMAYA COOPER | September 5, 2025

Irvin Washington, Jr. [photo courtesy of Irvin Washington, Jr., Lone Liaison, and Mr. Wolf Espresso]

The year is 2023. It’s August in New Orleans and Irvin Washington Jr., a multidisciplinary artist native to the city, has just exhibited his piece, “Karma” (2023) at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) for White Linen Night– one of the city’s largest annual art activations. 

This same summer, Irv and I sat down at Mr. Wolf Espresso, for our first interview together. He was a year fresh out of college, working as installation support at the CAC part-time and as an artist full-time, exhibiting and collaborating with creative spaces in the city. In the process of prepping for his first solo show– which would be at Mr.Wolf just six months later, Irv had just begun venturing into new territory – polaroid photography, a development spawned from his digital photography practice. 

During our conversation, he shared that he felt like he was “finding his footing”, experimenting with his artistic voice as an illustrator and photographer– curious to how he could keep it flexible, expansive, and most importantly, his own. 

Fast forward to the end of 2024. After having 4 group shows, 2 solo shows, a tee shirt drop, and cameos in independent films and music videos, Irv had emerged as an artist to watch in the city. His distinctly individual creative practice and persona – spanning mediums and interests– magnetized a community of creatives incubated in different pockets of the city. And as his following and art-making processes began to expand, I wanted to know what kept him tethered amid all the noise. 

[Courtesy of Irvin Washington, Jr.; from left to right: Untitled, 2024, Ink on Paper; Untitled, 2024, Ink on Paper]

Over Zoom, we caught up for a second interview. Irv shared this season of his journey as a navigation through new and heightened levels of visibility in an already rather familial city. In talking through these moments of growth and tension, I learned how crucial authenticity and 

exploration were to him – not only as an artist, but as an individual. As the number of eyes on him rises, so do the expectations, which only fuel Irv to reject them. And his commitment to carving out his own lane, seems to only propel him forward. 

In His Own Lane 

With his skateboard, camera, ink pens, and markers in hand, Irv illustrates often overlooked landscapes– some in the underbelly of his hometown, others anchored in the corners of his mind. 

In a city known for both its structural and cultural vibrancy – Irv dials back the color with his raw photography and mythical black-and-white ink drawings. Zoning in on unorthodox creative subcultures featuring skateboarders, graffiti taggers, and DIY-ers, Irv’s illustrations & photographs expose the often unknown scenes of underground New Orleans. 

He initially gained recognition for his skateboard photography, shooting scenes at Parisite D.I.Y. Skatepark and Humidity Skate Shop, but in the past year, Irv’s expanded his voice. Leaning into his illustration practice – his sketches portray a culmination of his passions– swampy wildlife, classical art history, Japanese manga, and skate & graffiti. And he still has his grip on photography, this time with his polaroid camera, though. 

He makes it clear in his first solo show (“Freestyle”, Mr. Wolf Espresso, March 2024) that he isn’t interested in being a one dimensional artist and that he wants to do it all.

In March of 2024, Irv tagged up the walls of Mr. Wolf– stamping his affinity towards the tag scene beyond his photographic documentation. Along with framed bookmarked-sized works, custom skate decks took up space on the artsy coffee shop’s walls and shelves, their bellies designed with funkily illustrated animals and characters of his universe. In this space, swamp life, street art, and kickflips collide, echoing interior and exterior landscapes of Southern alternative boyhood. It was silly, strange, and honest, all at once. 

Many of us visiting the show hadn’t been introduced to the inside of the city’s underground, but Irv walked us through it, piece by piece, unraveling the cloak of individuality and self truth that drapes many members of the DIY scene– himself included. 

“I ask myself that all the time, ‘Why am I drawn to these underground scenes, these DIY scenes, these skate scenes, graffiti scenes, and everything else in between?’ I feel like I'm drawn to these places because typically, we're in a scene where it's often overlooked, or you're in a scene where people don't necessarily agree with it… You have to do it because you thoroughly enjoy it and you're thoroughly passionate about it. 

…It's a way of living for them. It's not for show… It's authentic.” 

Immersing himself in this raw, unfiltered essence further anchors his individual vision for art.

[Photos courtesy of Irvin Washington, Jr.]

During our conversation, Irv shared a fun fact: Despite the prominence of graffiti that tattoos New Orleans, the city’s graffiti scene goes unnoticed compared to urban hubs like New York City or L.A. As usual, the talent of the South is often overlooked on a national scale, but Irv insists that this scene is worth the watch. 

Determined to shed light on this artistry, Irv documented graffiti tags during his lunch breaks downtown, capturing the varying expressions of street calligraphy decorating commercial and abandoned buildings. As he shared his findings on Instagram, writers— graffiti artists who tag specific names or phrases—felt seen, their unconventional yet undeniable art archived through his lens. In this way, Irv became a documentor of a brewing culture hidden in plain sight, building a new body of work. 

Centered around his exploration of graffiti as a visual language, he closed out 2024 with, “Artifacts”, a presentation of polaroid photography at Humidity Skate Shop. As a frequent visitor of the shop in college, Irv dreamed of collaborating with the brand some day and now, it’s come full circle. 

His genuine curiosity and interest, has attracted more eyes than he anticipated, leading to features in skate films: Vice x Dickies' "Made to Last," Red Bull Terminal Takeover’s "After Hours," and Hence Production’s “Boarded Up,” directed by Mathieu Alexander. He’s been more than just an artist in these spaces. He’s been a community member, uniquely positioning him to emphasize the subtleties the external eye often misses.

[Photos courtesy of Irvin Washington, Jr; From left to right: “NOIZ”, 2024, Instant Film; “Untitled”, 2024, Instant Film; “WHOADIES”, 2024, Instant Film]

Community 

Since his first exhibit, Irvin has continued to rise; exhibiting in numerous group shows, featuring in publications, and even gaining recognition from polaroid icons like Polo Silk. In this process, expanding his knowledge and community has been a priority. 

From studying the works of classical masters like Rembrandt, Francisco de Goya, Gustave Doré, and Aubrey Beardsley, to delving into the line work of contemporary cats like Katsuya Terada, Kim Jung Gi, Jim Mahfood, and Junji Ito, Irv has curated his own creative language that respects tradition while creating something new, fresh, and authentic. 

He’s humble enough to understand that he is a part of a dynasty of artists and creatives who have come before him and is empowered to be a part of this courageous group of people.

[Photos courtesy of Irvin Washington, Jr; From left to right: Irv pictured with Polo Silk; Photos of humidity X Irv Tee; Irv pictured with Lionel “Elleone” Milton]

Looking Forward 

Irv’s story is one of evolution—not just in his art but in how he approaches the world around him. From solo journeys documenting hidden corners of his city to headlining his own exhibitions, Irvin’s journey has been carved by a relentless commitment to his passions and community. 

His work challenges perceptions of what it means to be an artist in New Orleans, emphasizing the need to be multifaceted, honest, and rooted in your craft. And while his journey is still just beginning, his strides have become stronger and more confident. As he looks to the future, his focus remains fixed: pushing boundaries, embracing authenticity, and staying grounded in the creative chaos that fuels him. In a world that often prioritizes conformity, Irv’s commitment to freedom through change and expansion is a reminder that the most impactful art often begins on the margins. 

You can expect Irv to expand his platform to Substack (@yeahirv) where he’ll share more of his work and experimentation with his photography and illustration work. 

Written by Amaya Cooper