TATTOO CULTURE




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ACA Rate Hike of 20.5% Could Price Out Richmond Creatives

Richmond’s creative economy has always been powered by risk-takers like musicians, painters, actors, writers, photographers, makers, and the small business owners who keep the city’s galleries, venues, and shops alive. Many piece together a living from passion...

Life Wrote These Lines: Local Musicians Against AI

I was recently reflecting on a line I am particularly proud of. The tail half is: “I’ll go to the funeral if I get off of work.” As I am prone to do, it got me thinking about my abrasive hatred towards AI, especially in art. But I have to justify myself, if a computer...

Photos | the Flaming Lips & Modest Mouse on Brown’s island

Sunday night’s show on Brown’s Island felt like a ritual, maybe even a communion, as a field full of strangers came together under clear skies and perfect weather. Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, and opener Friko gave the crowd exactly what we came for. Modest Mouse...

The Lost Cause Boys’ Club

“The rebel yell, reinforced by a glorification of the lost cause was everywhere manifest,” reported John Mitchell Jr., editor of the Richmond Planet, an African American weekly newspaper, at the time of the Robert E. Lee monument’s unveiling.  It was the spring...

Richmond Icons Serve Looks in New West Main Mural

Longtime Richmond tattoo artist Charles Berger is known for his intricate and elaborate tattoos. He’s spent most of his years inking over at Heroes and Ghosts and now you can find him over at Lakeside Tattoo. But lately, Berger has taken his work beyond tattooing. He, along with local artist Parker Galore, just finished up a mural Sat. Nov. 28...

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Amy Black’s Powerful Tattoo Work Faces Instagram Censorship

The digital age has made free speech a complicated mess, and having algorithms, human moderators, or user-based reporting systems isn't helping. Such was the case for local tattoo artist Amy Black who has made headlines in the past for her work on tattooing over mastectomy scars. But those powerful images of her work didn't sit well with...

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Richmond Tattoo Artists’ Art Auction Supports Kids in Need

In an effort to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, local business employees, tattoo artists and VCU students will gather tonight at the Mott Gallery to auction video game and super hero-themed art. Jillian Ryan and Bob Broomfield of Bits and Pixels, a video game store in Carytown, got the idea for the auction when they...

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Tales of Tattoos at Secretly Y’all’s (Im)Permanence at VMFA

The co-founders of Secretly Y’all are back again with an exciting new event this time with the theme on one of the things that makes Richmond, Richmond: tattoos. On September 4th, Secretly Y'all will present (Im)Permanence at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which currently has a Japanese tattoo exhibit on display until the end of this month....

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Heritage in Ink: Discovering the Depths of Japanese Tattoos at VMFA

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has managed to blend the locally popular art of tattoo and the historically beautiful craftsmanship of Japanese art with the launch of its new exhibition, “Japanese Tattoo: Perseverance, Art, and Tradition.” The collection centers around seven internationally acclaimed tattoo artists, curated by Kip...

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Richmond is getting its first Japanese tattoo mural

Richmond is getting its first Japanese tattoo-inspired mural-and you get to be apart of the fun starting today. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts launched the RVA Japanese Scavenger Hunt today and from now until May 28, the museum will put a piece of the tattoo around the city and you must use your savvy detective skills to find them. You'll...

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Richmond Tattoo Revolution: Styles and Stories from the Streets

Richmond ranks third among America's most tattooed cities, just behind Las Vegas and Miami. In this vibrant city, you’re never far from a quality tattoo shop. The city boasts a rich selection of talented artists and renowned shops, each offering their unique styles. With such permanent artwork at stake, it’s crucial to thoroughly research and...

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Richmond's Tattoo Revolution: Styles and Stories from the Streets_benjamin-lehman_RVA Magazine 2015