Inked Bodies

Inked Bodies considers tattooing as creative storytelling and self-expression. Through drawn representations of tattoos interspersed with photographs of tattooed people, this exhibition explores tattoos as embodied artwork. In cultures across the globe, people use tattoos to commemorate events, mark social status, remember loved ones, and more. Although tattooing was stigmatized in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is becoming increasingly widespread. Inked Bodies examines how the process and presence of tattoos impacts a person’s social identity. This exhibition is curated by the Spencer's 2023–2024 graduate interns.