Find out how astronomy, communism, beekeeping, and body modification intersect to create a fantastic mid-20th century British couple that reshaped fashion and fetish.
Speaker Biography: In 1991, Paul King began a piercing apprenticeship under Elayne Angel, author of The Piercing Bible. He worked in all three and managed two of the former Gauntlet locations. He has lectured on body modification since 1993. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. degree, highest honours in Anthropology. He was awarded the title of Master Piercer by Gauntlet’s founder Jim Ward. In 1999, he opened Cold Steel, a piercing and tattooing shop in San Francisco. He has served as a board-appointed treasurer of the non-profit Association of Professional Piercer since 2008. In 2014, he founded the Body Piercing Archive (BPA). Paul King and the BPA create annual exhibits on important aspects of body modification. In 2022, he published Alan Oversby: Documentary Evidence. In 2024, he published, “Reshaping Desire: Ethel and William Granger’s Astonishing Tale of Piercing and Corseting.
Need to Know
Meet the speaker
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
