On November 9, 2024, tattooers from around the globe came together at the legendary ATAK Gallery in San Francisco, Earth, for The 1824 Legacy, a celebration of tattoo artistry on a grand scale.
Co-curated by tattooers Briton McFetridge and Adrian Lee, the exhibition featured 50 accomplished tattooers, each showcasing creations on the 18×24 canvas—a near-perfect scale-up from the traditional 11×14 flash art frame.
The 18×24 format provided an expansive space for intricate, large-scale designs, serendipitously mirroring the dimensions of a traditional Western-style shoulder-to-waist backpiece. Revered as a sacred space in tattooing, the backpiece serves as a canvas for grand themes and ornate details, embodying the transformative power of the art form.
The show encouraged artists to push their creative boundaries, producing works celebrating tattooing’s deep connection to storytelling and symbolism. The only instruction given to the artists was simple: do what you do best.
In a nod to the utilitarian roots of tattoo culture, the exhibition honoured the tradition of modular flash displays in traditional tattoo shops. Historically, tattoo flash is placed into 11×14 frames and screwed directly into shop walls to prevent theft. For The 1824 Legacy, all 18×24 frames were similarly screwed directly into the gallery walls, blending the practicality of the past with today’s creative innovation.
Adrian Lee said: “More than just an art show, The 1824 Legacy was a testament to the unity and shared passion of the international tattoo community. It brought together artists, collectors, and enthusiasts to connect, celebrate, and inspire one another. Some call it church. Others call it a good time. We call it a celebration of the core community”.
@atakgallery
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Artists:
@johansvahntattooing – @rosehardy – @ryanussher – @oliver.macintosh – @dansin – @danielebht – @claudiadesabetattoo – @chrisgarver – @bara_madrid – @noble1tattooing – @scsylvia – @pauldobleman – @steve_byrne_tattoo – @tattoomuseum – @billcanales – @chueyquintanar – @jondix – @alexrusty – @mikedorseytattoo – @timlehi – @jcastano666 – @adamwarmerdam – @bryanburk – @diletta_lembo – @br3ntpatt3n – @joshpalmer_ovt – @klem_diglio – @yusukehamamoto – @ue_the_parlour – @juan_teyer – @morrisonschiffmacher – @gordoncombs – @marc_nava – @rg74 – @andreas_coenen – @yonizilber – @marcoserio – @amijames1 – @adrian_hing_tattoo – @mastersofdeath – @holyfoxtattoos – @t_hundahl – @mariesena – @houseofgracetattoo – @giacomopompei.bht – @alextrufant – @claudioscialabbatattoos – @tattva_sattva – @tonydegrazia – @evanweidnertattoo
