Biography
David Guardado was born on April 19, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois on one of three days of evil. His childhood was spent in a community known as the Back of the Yards, where the stench of the nearby slaughterhouses filled the air on a daily basis. He was raised under a strict catholic upbringing and attended a catholic school by the name of "Sacred Heart." It was this school, with its many bad memories, which sparked his contempt for the catholic religion.
At a young age David went to battle with the first of many demons he would encounter: his parents. His father was an alcoholic and his mother, a borderline schizophrenic, was prone to abusing his sister and had frequent hallucinations of the Virgin Mary. This traumatic home life was topped by the strange and unexplained phenomenon that would occur around the house. These occurrences could only be explained as paranormal activity, which drove David’s family from his childhood home. During these young years, David constantly drew tangible things around him, the dark side yet to emerge.
The dawn of his debauchery began at the age of eighteen. David attended Northern Illinois University as well as several community colleges in the Chicago area. His constant drinking and drug use impaired his "non-chemical" related studies, eventually causing him to leave those circles. It was at this point in his life that he would face yet another demon. This demon would almost take his life, but, for some reason, settled only for his flesh. One drunken night driving with a friend, they were involved in a three car collision, which flung their vehicle head on into a semi. David’s nose and lip were torn from his face. David’s facial features were reconstructed shortly after the incident, a team of plastic surgeons and painkillers getting him through the ordeal. The accident, though brutal and thought provoking, did nothing to slow David down. He stared down this particular demon and all he could do was release a devilish grin.
David’s drinking and drug use continued, heavily affecting all of his personal relationships. His sculpting and painting began to receive some recognition in the Chicago area; however his involvement with the underbelly of society forced him to leave. David eventually wound up in Portland, Oregon, where he was determined to release his own artistic demon. He engulfed himself in strip clubs and happy hours throughout the Land of Bridges. He continues to paint and bring to life demons of the past, present and the future.
When not painting or sculpting, you can find David at your local library, pub or strip-club. He continues to live life fast, and enjoys all levels of over consumption which is a driving force that fuels his art.
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
- Aleister Crowley.