Call for Art: Identity in Ink: The Art of Tattooing

Submissions due by August 15th, 2025

Exhibit Dates: October 6th - November 11th, 2025

Wistariahurst Museum is searching for artists for our upcoming exhibit this October, Identity in Ink: The Art of Tattooing. Despite its more modern surge in interest, the art of tattooing is one of the ancient traditions in human history. Etching pictures and symbols into skin has been around for thousands of years and has held countless meanings throughout different cultures and times. Greeks, ancient nomads, ancient Egyptians, Indigenous peoples, and many other communities have utilized tattoos to highlight their identity. Some are still rooted in tradition and rituals, but tattoos have evolved into powerful symbols of self-expression, storytelling, and identity.

We are looking for tattoo artists or apprentices from all backgrounds to be a part of this exhibit. The goal of this exhibit is to share how tattoos hold deep social, cultural, and spiritual meaning. Wistariahurst Museum is seeking artists whose work is shaped by heritage, lived experiences, and personal history. Whether your art draws on traditional methods, incorporates powerful symbolism, or pushes boundaries with modern design, we want you to be a part of this storytelling art exhibit.

Submissions are open to any artists who are licensed or currently in an apprenticeship. Submissions should include 3-4 quality images with information (title, date, medium, and size). Pictures can be of tattooed skin, photos of pre-worked design or flashes, and/or images of the tattooing process. Please ensure that any sensitive areas on client photos are blurred or not shown. Additionally, no logos, business promotions, or watermarks on any submitted works.  Make sure to include an artist statement (approximately 300 words about your art and its relationship to the theme) and an artist bio (approximately 150 words about you as an artist) in one PDF. Submissions must be sent to info@wistariahurst.org.  We are an artist-friendly space that encourages all forms of creativity and supports the growth of this region’s artists. Any and all questions are welcome and encouraged.