ARKANSAS ART CENTER-MUSEUM OF ART

The large-scale black and white photographs in this exhibition document 25 years of tattoo culture. In 1979, Pittsburgh photographer Mark Perrott spent weekends making black and white portraits at Nick's Island Avenue Tattoo parlor in McKees Rocks, Pa. Later, he took his camera on a rust belt tour of tattoo parlors where he made more photographs. His continued curiosity compelled him to visit 10 American mid-career tattoo masters where he made portraits of each artist and a handful of their clients. In this exhibition, Perrott's stark photographs present the viewer with a clear-focused image of individuals who have stories to tell. The artistry of the tattoos and the photographs come together to offer a unique look at one of the oldest subjects in art-capturing a true likeness of an individual. In these portraits of both the tattoos and their owners, Perrott investigates the very personal and public nature of tattoos. The exhibition also challenges visitors to question who gets tattoos and why people have found the need to mark their bodies for more than 5000 years.