Paul King

Paul King has been a professional body piercer since 1991. He has lectured on body modification since 1993. He apprenticed for 18 months under Elayne Angel, master piercer and author of The Piercing Bible. He worked in all three former Gauntlet locations, managed LA and NYC and was awarded the title of Master Piercer. He has a UC Berkeley B.A. degree in Anthropology. In 1999, Paul King partnered with Grant Dempsey to create Cold Steel in San Francisco. In 2007, he received the APP’s President’s Award for contributions to the Piercing Industry. He has served as a board-appointed treasurer of the APP since 2008. In 2022, he published his book Alan Oversby: Documentary Evidence, edited interviews about UK’s iconic piercer and tattoo artist, Mr. Sebastian. In 2014, with the support of the APP board elect, Paul King founded the Body Piercing Archive: www.bodypiercingarchive.org

In 1991, Paul King began a 1 1/2 year apprenticeship under Elayne Angel. He worked in all three former Gauntlet locations, managed LA and NYC and was awarded the title of Master Piercer by Jim Ward in 1996. He has a UC Berkeley B.A. degree in Anthropology. He has lectured on body modification since 1993. In 1999, Paul King partnered with Grant Dempsey to create Cold Steel in San Francisco. He has served as a board-appointed treasurer of the APP since 2008. In 2014, with the support of the APP board, Paul King founded the Body Piercing Archive.

Classes 2024:

• Tattoo Samy and the European Piercing Underground
• Exposing: Tattoo Samy, the erotic side of a body modification Pioneer
• Ethel and William Granger: A Complicated Love Story That Changed The Piercing World

Classes 2023:

• Rudy Inhelder’s Tattoo Club of America
• Piercing Rituals of the Plains Native Americans

Classes 2022:

• Alan Oversby: Documentary Evidence
• The Incredible Till of Cardiff

Class 2019:

• Fakir Musafar: In Pursuit of the Spirit

Class 2018:

• Recovering the Western History of Body Piercing 1890s-1990s

Class 2017:

• XXX History of Piercing (Part 2) – Pierced Males of Porn

Classes 2016:

• History of Tattooing
• XXX History of Piercing in Porn

Classes 2015:

• History of Tattooing
• Traditions of Hook Swinging in South Asia

Classes 2014:

• History of Tattooing
• Recovering the History of Western Piercing

Classes 2013:

• Ascetic Practices of Hindu Tamil- Festival
• The Grieving Body

Classes 2012:

• Ritual Modification
• Barcamp Session

Classes 2011:

• Suspension of Belief
• History of Tattooing
• The Thai Pusam Festival

Classes 2010:

• Ritualized Modification
• Body Modification in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican Cultures

Classes 2009:

• Ritualized Modification
• NeedleBlade Piercing Techniques (Workshop)

Classes 2008:

• Origin of Tattoo
• Modern History Piercing

Classes 2007:

• History of Western Body Piercing from 1890’s through 1990’s
• Sri Lankan Festivals of Suspension