Walking along the streets of Traverse City while on vacation a few years ago, Megan Koch was prompted to stop at a tattoo shop. She was intrigued by the display of tattoo art hanging on the walls.
Her interest sparked the idea for a first-of-its-kind exhibit at
Studio 23 in Downtown Bay City. “Beyond Skin Deep” is a fusion of art and tattooing by local and regional tattoo artists. The exhibit kicked off with a public reception on May 23 and ran through July 13.
“The display of flash sheets at the Traverse City tattoo shop (featuring examples of the tattoo artists’ work) was so impressive,” said Megan Koch, Executive Director of Studio 23 The Arts Center. “It made me realize how tattoo artists are so often overlooked as artists. Their work deserves to be in the fine arts sphere.”
Beyond Skin Deep was created to do exactly that. The exhibit celebrated the artwork of regional tattoo artists from Bay City, Midland, and Saginaw. Artists spend years perfecting their craft and honing their style. The artwork displayed demonstrated the creative process of the artists, including sketches and flash sheets (collections of designs available from an artist), photographs of completed work on clients, and a wide array of artwork created in a variety of media beyond human skin, such as painting, collage, digital art, and embroidery.
![]()
Photo courtesy of Studio 23Julia Shepard, of Evermore Tattoo Gallery, created this Scorched Serpent pyrography. In pyrography, artists use a heated pen-like metal tool to create burn marks.
The six artists included in this year’s exhibit were excited to have the opportunity to show off their skills and highlight their craft.
Featured artists included: Paul Gomez and Julia Shepard from
Evermore Tattoo Gallery at 808 N. Jefferson St.; Lexxus Panico-Mis from
Hourglass Tattoo at 309 E. Midland St.; and Rae Sutto from
Area 13 Tattoo at 928 Washington Ave. Other exhibitors included Ashley Bork from The Studio in Saginaw and Jordan Taylor from Black Ball Tattoo in Midland.
Koch had two goals in mind in hosting the new exhibit.
Goal number one was to showcase the tattooist’s talent, expertise and skills and help elevate them as artists. Second, Koch hoped to interest new people to come into the studio for this display.
“Hopefully we can help break down some of the stigmas often associated with tattoos and normalize the art of tattooing,” said Koch. “The exhibit highlights each artist’s individual style, the process of tattooing from concept to final product. Seeing the artist’s work can help people choose a tattooist.”
Tattooing has served many purposes over time from ancient and cultural practices to sailors using tattoos for identity purposes in case of shipwrecks. Along the way, stigmas, stereotypes and misconceptions have evolved.
More recently, a cultural shift has happened allowing tattooing to be celebrated as a form of art and self-expression. Nowadays, people from all walks of life have tattoos.
![]()
Photo courtesy of Studio 23The work of artist Jordan Taylor of Black Ball Tattoo also was on display. This one is called Purgatory.Beyond Skin Deep was popular, starting with one of the largest attendance at an opening reception. The tattoo artists were excited at the chance to showcase their work in a gallery. Their clients were proud to support their favorite artists and show off their tattoos.
Paul Gomez, co-owner of Evermore Tattoo Gallery, has been tattooing for 24 years. He’s never been invited to participate in an art gallery show. He was eager to be involved.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to see us as actual artists,” said Gomez. “I’m happy to be able to open people’s eyes to what’s possible, beyond what you typically see on TV or Pinterest. We are making genuine art pieces; our canvas is skin.”
Gomez learned the craft through apprenticeships. He has worked in tattoo shops throughout the state, landing back in his hometown of Bay City at Evermore Tattoo Gallery a year and a half ago. While Gomez has lost count of the number of tattoos he’s done throughout his career, he remembers his first tattoo…. a dolphin splashing out of the water on his ex-wife.
Gomez was impressed with the turnout and genuine interest among attendees at the opening reception. His demonstration of the tattoo process at the event turned into a lengthy question-and-answer session.
“I had no idea I had so many supporters,” said Gomez.
An added bonus resulting from the exhibit is the opportunity to mingle with fellow tattoo artists, says Gomez. He’s hoping this will lead to more hang outs with artists in the area and an ability to see each other as more than competitors.
Beyond Skin Deep is a unique exhibit among art galleries. Koch is not aware of other galleries hosting tattoo artists’ work but she hopes the idea catches on. She looks forward to hosting the exhibit again in the future.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.