TAMPA, Fla. — Welcome to 9 Questions with…, a new regular feature in which we’ll get to know some of the Bay area’s movers and shakers a little better. It could be a politician, an artist, a first responder, a bartender—just about anyone, really. This week’s subject is Tampa artist Cam Parker, better known as Painkiller Cam. He’s done murals, held gallery shows and is perhaps most infamous for presenting his favorite musical megacelebrities, like Lady Gaga and Lizzo, with custom works when they come to town to perform. Is there someone you’d like to answer 9 Questions? Let us know!

Are you a Tampa Bay native? If not, where are you from?

I’m originally from an Illinois farm town near Chicago, but I've been in Tampa for 12 years. And even if I move, I will always have a house in Tampa.

How would you describe your job or claim to fame?

I'm a visual artist x life changer. I don’t believe in pointless or arbitrary interactions. I either want to click and connect, or just not [do it] at all at this point.

What’s your favorite Tampa Bay restaurant?

Whoever is serving mimosa at any given point, LOL. There's way too many amazing spots in town. Always something to choose from.

Do you have a personal Tampa Bay “secret spot” and/or “hidden treasure”?

Any thrift shop in the city limits. I love repurposing and taking something that's been cast aside, adding glitter, rhinestones, gold leaf and/or fringe and making it look like a trillion dollars. Too much is almost enough, I always say!

What is your favorite Tampa Bay tradition?

Open-air markets and outdoor art fairs, I love local talent. Those products are my favorite finds ever!

What’s one thing many people don’t know about you that you’re willing to share with us?

When I first start a piece of art I have to wear two pairs of thick socks, even in summer—and I love Brussels sprouts.

If you could change one thing about the Tampa Bay area or your community specifically, what would it be?

In those terms I prefer to think more globally. I want world peace, as corny as it sounds, and for people to be more conscious of how fragile the Earth really is from a conservation and sustainability standpoint. Too many think we are working with an unlimited supply of resources, and I'm like, "Girl. No." LOL

You’ve gotten some notoriety from presenting celebs with your art. Do you have a favorite experience?

[Lady] Gaga displaying my art at her show was faint-worthy. Diana Ross wearing my jacket I painted for her while singing "I Will Survive" was my gay dream come true. But from an interactive standpoint, having Janet Jackson and Naomi Campbell take the time to repost jackets I made for them and giving their stamp of approval was life-changing. Majorly humbling. Mainly ‘cause they were all goals I set for myself, and I took the initiative to try to fulfill them.

Is there one mural or piece of your art you’re most proud of?

There is one of them that is my least favorite, and when I see it when I'm out and about, instead of beating myself up for what I could've done differently, I use it as fuel and inspo to do those things differently in my future work.