Capstone Project
About the Project
My capstone project reimagines tattoo art as both a visual and interactive experience. Tattoos have long been a form of personal storytelling and self-expression, and I wanted to explore that language through illustration on a larger scale. I created a series of large, hand-painted wooden designs inspired by tattoo aesthetics, emphasizing bold linework, symbolic imagery, and the narrative power behind body art. Along with these wooden scultpures, I illustrated a collection of tattoo inspired works. Displayed in a gallery setting, these pieces highlighted the artistry of tattoos in a way that allowed viewers to appreciate them as standalone works.
To extend the project beyond the traditional viewing experience, I translated my designs into temporary tattoos that were given out during the exhibition. This element encouraged interaction and participation, inviting viewers to take a piece of the project with them and wear it on their own skin. By doing so, the artwork shifted from being static on the wall to becoming something living, personal, and mobile.
The project aimed to blur the boundary between art as an object and art as an experience. It emphasized the idea that tattoos are not just images, but narratives people carry with them, and that even in a temporary form, they can foster connection, identity, and expression.
Visitors were invited to take home and wear temporary tattoos, extending the experience into their daily lives.
Art that moves beyond the wall.
Artist Statement
As an aspiring tattoo artist, Colleen Gill is devoted to mastering a variety of styles, showcasing her distinctive and diverse body of work. She is committed to producing a wide and varied range of tattoo designs, such as American Traditional and Neo-Japanese. She traditionally uses physical, colored media and Procreate. Colleen’s personal tattoos share the joy and significance of her life with others. She created these designs with the hope that they will one day become meaningful tattoos for other people. Her service for this work is to have people as her canvas and let them appreciate it. These designs serve as powerful examples of art that can become a permanent part of someone's body, alongside the experience of being tattooed, no matter where they are in the world.