Liberty the Tattooed Lady Exhibit Extended to March 15th

The City Reliquary Museum in Brooklyn has extended the Liberty Tattoo show so there’s still time to visit the exhibit through March 15th. The Reliquary is open weekends noon to 6pm. This exhibit features The Statue of Liberty as depicted in tattooing through vintage tattoo flash, drawings, photos, stencils and other related objects with work from some of the most famous names of traditional American tattooing, including: Bert Grimm, Charlie Wagner, Owen Jensen, Dainty Dotty, Ralph Johnson.

Copies of the exhibition catalog written by Michelle Myles, who curated the show, are available for sale. This is a great opportunity to see original traditional tattoo flash, some of which has never been on public display before. There is a lot to be inspired by in this show and many have been inspired to get their own Lady Liberty tattoos from this exhibit.

How Lucky To Have the Bowery

We just got back from the Norfolk Tattoo Convention and it was inspiring to visit another city so rich with tattoo history. The Mariners Museum invited us for a viewing of their Coleman treasures which was an extra special honor considering the Coleman Statue is only taken out once a year due to its fragile nature.

On Friday Chuck Eldridge gave a presentation of Norfolk tattooers which really hit home how many incredible historic figures worked in the busy port town just a few blocks from the convention.

After Chuck’s talk I took note of where we were in relation to where the old tattooers worked. Norfolk’s main street was lined with tattooers similar to how the NYC tattooers clustered on the Bowery with most of the NYC tattoo shop locations in just a couple city blocks. The big difference though was the current state of their Main Street versus the state of the Bowery. Main Street in Norfolk is now the convention center and is almost exclusively lined with modern hotels and glass buildings. Such a shame when you look at how cool Main Street was back in the day with very few glimpses of it’s history left. I think the Bowery has actually benefited from its years in decline as our “skid row” which is part of what has preserved much of it’s character. Unfortunately the historic nature of the Bowery is under constant threat of being bulldozed into a future of nondescript glass boxes but for now there are still some gems left with a lot of character still in place.

Liberty Tattoos Are the Focus of this NYC Tattoo Shop - New York Post

The New York Post featured the Liberty the Tattooed Lady exhibit in todays paper.

“Give me your tired, your poor — and your tatted masses.”

The Statue of Liberty has long been a symbol of freedom and the American Dream, but also an irresistible option for a tattoo among a surprising number of tattoo collectors.

We are very excited about this article in the Post and have gotten so much feedback from it. The pictures are great and it was worth finding a print copy as a keepsake.

Norfolk Tattoo Convetion

The Norfolk Tattoo Convention is next weekend October 18,19 and 20th. This will be a tattoo history filled weekend starting Thursday with a special friends and artists meet up at the Mariners Museum in New Port News, Virginia. There will be a special viewing of the museum’s private ‘Cap’ Coleman tattoo collection. Coleman is referred to as the “Godfather of American tattooing” who’s influence is still felt today and was admired by Bowery and NYC Tattoo artists. Coleman tattooed from about 1912 and settled in Norfolk Virginia, a major seaport, in 1918, working on Main Street, tattooing many a sailor in the busy port town. Coleman passed away in 1973 and luckily much of his artwork remains. Daredevil Tattoo Shop is proud to have a display of original Coleman tattoo flash on view as part of the Daredevil Museum of NYC Tattoo History. Daredevil tattoo artists Michelle Myles and Isaac Dekle will be driving down from NYC to attend. Say hello if you’re there!

August “Cap” Coleman tattoo artist stands in front of his Tattoo shop

What's Your New York City Tattoo/

Dave Herman founder of the City Reliquary Museum in Brooklyn joins tattoo artist Michelle Myles on the WNYC show, All of It with Alison Stewart to discuss the exhibit, Liberty the Tattooed Lady currently on display at the museum

Alison Stewart: “A 2023 study from the Pew Research Center found that about one-third of Americans have a tattoo, and 22% of adults have more than one. For over 100 years New York has been the epicenter of modern tattooing, with the most important innovations taking shape right on the Bowery in lower Manhattan. A new exhibit at the city reliquary focuses on the history of tattoos here in New York and specifically tattoos of the Statue of Liberty. New Yorkers have loved getting Lady Liberty tattooed and the exhibit contains vintage photos and designs of old statues of liberty tattoos, as well as images of modern Lady Liberty designs. The exhibit is titled, Liberty the Tattooed lady, the great Bartholdi statue as depicted in tattooing. It's up now at the City Reliquary Museum and Civic Organization in Williamsburg until mid January 2025.

Alison is joined by the founder and curator of the museum, Dave Herman along with his co-curator, tattoo artist Michelle Miles of Daredevil NYC tattoo shop and museum…