We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean Tully and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Los Angeles and spent my childhood moving between the Valley and Venice, gaining diverse perspectives from the contrasting neighborhoods of my parents’ homes. Growing up in Southern California during the vibrant 90s and early 2000s greatly influenced my outlook, offering a colorful palette of experiences.

A second-generation surfer, I embraced the traditional surfing aesthetic and pursued professional surfing in my youth, earning features in various international surf publications. My ocean-related adventures have taken me across Europe, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Through connections with renowned surf photographers and lasting friendships forged during my travels, I’ve maintained a consistent presence in both the local surf community and abroad.

In 2010, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). My art practice centers on the interplay between the intentional and unintentional, creating emotionally charged works influenced by side cultures, perceptions of artistic nostalgia, and universal life experiences.

As an entrepreneur, I founded and currently manage two small businesses. INNOCNTS, initially a studio project highlighting upcoming LA-area artists, evolved into a brick-and-mortar gallery in 2013, situated in the rapidly growing Silverlake neighborhood. After relocating next to the Echoplex in Echo Park in 2015, the gallery hosted over 20 shows before transitioning into a pop-up gallery. In 2020, INNOCNTS took a new direction, launching a side venture—private labeling natural wines under the INNOCNTS Wine Club label, producing limited runs of California wines (30-50 cases). Both companies continue to modestly operate, contributing to authentic projects and fostering connections with remarkable individuals.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
INNOCNTS defies definition and rejects the desire to conform to any predetermined identity. When asked, “What is INNOCNTS?” my honest reply has always been that it is whatever it needs to be at any given moment. This approach liberates both myself and the business output from being confined to a rigid definition.

Functioning as a lifestyle-based project, INNOCNTS takes on various forms, including art curation, events, clothing, brand collaborations, and surf/skate-related media. It’s a loose collective of lesser-known individuals from diverse backgrounds, attempting to carve out a genuine path of our own.

Originally established as a brick-and-mortar art gallery in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, INNOCNTS has evolved into a larger movement of like-minded individuals from across the globe. Rooted in strong connections to art, DIY, surf, and skate communities, INNOCNTS continues to showcase genuine projects and individuals doing things their own way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Start your day with visits to The Broad and MOCA to immerse yourself in some art before having lunch downtown. Take a break between museum stops to relax and enjoy a quick beer and margarita at La Cita, conveniently located next to Grand Central Market. After exploring the museums, make your way to Lincoln Heights for my favorite chicken tacos at La Estrella taco stand. Consider a short skate session at the nearby Lincoln Heights skatepark, situated across from La Estrella in the park.

From Lincoln Heights, head to Chinatown for a delightful French Dip experience at Philippe’s. Take a leisurely stroll around Chinatown, exploring various art galleries – there are some good ones if you time it right. As the afternoon progresses, make your way to the neighborhood bar, Crawfords in Filipino Town, for a pint of local IPA, catch a Dodgers game, and perhaps indulge in their awesome fried chicken.

After Crawfords, catch a show at either Zebulon in Frogtown or The Echo in Echo Park. Wrap up the night by enjoying a joint at an undisclosed cityscape viewpoint in Victor Heights. Perhaps kick off the following morning with a surf session in Venice, followed by a burger and beer at Hinano, a longstanding local refuge.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother Bonny Butler @bonnysue1

Website: sean tully.com / innocnts.com / innocntswineclub.com

Instagram: @sean_tully / @innocnts / @innocnts_wine_club

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@innocntsofficial

Image Credits
as written on jpegs

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.