Back in 2017, I curated 100 Hands, which formed the centrepiece of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s exhibition British Tattoo Art Revealed. It showcased the work of 100 tattoo artists all working in the UK. Sadly, at the time, white and male practise arms were the only ones available, which means – as you can see in a selection of the work – there is a glaring lack of representation. This, alongside other major omissions from the exhibition, is why, as a guest curator for the museum, I got in touch with tattoo artist Charissa Gregson to be the lead artist of a brand new exhibition to address the lack of diversity not just within the exhibition itself but also as a statement about racism in the tattoo industry.

British Tattoo Art: Reclaiming the Narrative, features 14 pieces of artwork by Black and POC tattoo artists, all working in the UK today. The artworks represent a celebration of contemporary tattoo art on Black and brown skin. These works are also intended as a positive intervention into a wider, necessary conversation around diversity of representation – historical and contemporary – in the story of British tattoo art.

I curated Reclaiming the Narrative alongside lead artist Charissa Gregson / Rizza Boo, owner of Shadow Work Tattoos, Glasgow. We spent months planning and talking about ideas. We made a list of Black and POC tattoo artists and asked them to be part of the exhibition. And then we searched for companies who now supply tattoo practise skin in more diverse tones. A Pound Of Flesh donated the skin plaques, arm and hands for the exhibition, as they now offer five different tones. The incredible female torso was specially created for the exhibition and the artwork that Charissa Gregson has created on it forms the focal point of Reclaiming the Narrative.

Here’s what Charissa says about the exhibition:

“Following the brutal killing of George Floyd in 2020, people all over the world have been engaging in more conversations about social injustice, police brutality, institutional racism and anti-Blackness. We saw this echoed through the tattoo community with clients and tattooers sharing some of their experiences of anti-Blackness within the industry, ranging from subtle microaggressions to outright racism. There were conversations about the lack of appreciation and representation of black artists, insensitivity when tattooing cultural subject matter, the harmful effects of whitewashing photos of clients to fit a specific aesthetic and the general lack of knowledge and misinformation around tattooing darker skin.

“We know that representation matters. This exhibit feels like an important addition, showcasing the work of Black and POC tattooers, making sure we are included in this particular record of tattoo history. It is a small sign of progress that the plaques and silicone arms used in this project are now available in a slightly more diverse palette, which one would hope will continue to expand. Offering a wider range of colours, skin tones, so that even more people would see a representation of their skin included in an exhibition like this. 

“When asked to contribute to this project, it was obvious to me that we must get more artists involved. A single piece by one artist would only be the illusion of diversity and give a false impression of the cultural and artistic diversity that actually exists in our communities. Holding space for more artists and giving platform to their creativity gives a truer look at who is tattooing in Britain right now. With this project we seek to disrupt and challenge some of the misinformation, give voice to the individual artists and allow us to share some of our collective story.”

Reclaiming the Narrative on at the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall

The exhibition includes Charissa Gregson’s tattooed torso, Starry Crown, which celebrates the Black female body and forms the centrepiece of the exhibition.

Additional designs on synthetic skin plaques including works from:

Manni K, Jolie Rouge
Natasha Jackson, Prophecy Tattoo and Piercing
Lord Montana-Blue, The Good Fight Tattoo
Sarah Louise Powell, Neon Wolf Tattoo Studio
Samantha Bee, INKLOUNGE Tattoo Studio 
Rakhee Shah, Xotica Tattoo Company 
Nish Rowe, Blu Xion Tattoo 
Jade Clark, Heart of Glass Tattoo
Samuel Ayobami Paul, Artkilledme
Ash Tyson, Ouroboros private studio  
Yasir, Fake Skin Tattoo
Jezz-lee Wood, Samsara Tattoo Parlour
Pedro, Grey Area Custom Tattoos