Body of Work: Tattoo Culture

Body of Work: Tattoo Culture explores the rapid growth of tattooing as a form of creative and artistic self-expression whose mainstream acceptance has been driven, in part, by pop culture.

Featuring photographs, artifacts, films, original artwork, interactives, and filmed interviews, the exhibition examines the rich history and artistry of tattooing, with its diverse expression in different cultures, and demonstrates the critical role that pop culture has played in bringing body modification to the mainstream. The intent of the exhibition is to create a broader dialogue that celebrates the tattoo culture and makes it accessible to a variety of visitors.

The exhibition examines the social history of tattoos using large-scale infographics, historical and contemporary photography, oral history interviews, short documentary films created specifically for this exhibition, text panels, and digital and physical interactives to ensure the highest level of inclusivity. Body of Work will feature large-scale, original works of art created by regional tattoo artists. The artists have been chosen to demonstrate the wide range of styles possible in tattoo art and to show the diversity of tattoo practitioners.

The exhibition contains 10 distinct sections, each having different elements and themes.