A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Where should the line be drawn?

In follow-up to the conversation on in what context (if any) a “Hitler tattoo” is appropriate, Lane Jensen (iam:inksation) asks,

Does a shop have a moral obligation to turn away serial killer portraits the same way they turn away racist tattoos?

Mike Gibson at Dragon FX who did these Richard Ramirez (the Nightstalker) and Albert Fish portrait tattoos says, “no”.

Comments

268 responses to “Where should the line be drawn?”

  1. sara Avatar

    these tattoos are the shit! mike you are the shit! plain and simple!

  2. sara Avatar

    these tattoos are the shit! mike you are the shit! plain and simple!

  3. sara Avatar

    these tattoos are the shit! mike you are the shit! plain and simple!

  4. sara Avatar

    these tattoos are the shit! mike you are the shit! plain and simple!

  5. cadaver Avatar

    how about getting memorial tattoos of the victims of these killers?
    oh but that’s not shocking/intense/hardcore enough.

  6. cadaver Avatar

    how about getting memorial tattoos of the victims of these killers?
    oh but that’s not shocking/intense/hardcore enough.

  7. cadaver Avatar

    how about getting memorial tattoos of the victims of these killers?
    oh but that’s not shocking/intense/hardcore enough.

  8. cadaver Avatar

    how about getting memorial tattoos of the victims of these killers?
    oh but that’s not shocking/intense/hardcore enough.

  9. MissAmbrose Avatar
    MissAmbrose

    The work is amazing, but I’d never geta serial killer tatooed on me. I hope the person who has it doesn’t idolise that evil man

  10. MissAmbrose Avatar
    MissAmbrose

    The work is amazing, but I’d never geta serial killer tatooed on me. I hope the person who has it doesn’t idolise that evil man

  11. MissAmbrose Avatar
    MissAmbrose

    The work is amazing, but I’d never geta serial killer tatooed on me. I hope the person who has it doesn’t idolise that evil man

  12. MissAmbrose Avatar
    MissAmbrose

    The work is amazing, but I’d never geta serial killer tatooed on me. I hope the person who has it doesn’t idolise that evil man

  13. abstract_virtue Avatar

    I think it’s up to the artist themselves, the same way that I think that many tattoo artists should say no to the hundreds of lower back butterfly/chinese symbol tattoos. Ok, butterflies and serial killers are by no means in the same category, but the tattoo artist should say yes or no. After all, their name will forever be attached to the tattoo that they create as well.

  14. abstract_virtue Avatar

    I think it’s up to the artist themselves, the same way that I think that many tattoo artists should say no to the hundreds of lower back butterfly/chinese symbol tattoos. Ok, butterflies and serial killers are by no means in the same category, but the tattoo artist should say yes or no. After all, their name will forever be attached to the tattoo that they create as well.

  15. abstract_virtue Avatar

    I think it’s up to the artist themselves, the same way that I think that many tattoo artists should say no to the hundreds of lower back butterfly/chinese symbol tattoos. Ok, butterflies and serial killers are by no means in the same category, but the tattoo artist should say yes or no. After all, their name will forever be attached to the tattoo that they create as well.

  16. abstract_virtue Avatar

    I think it’s up to the artist themselves, the same way that I think that many tattoo artists should say no to the hundreds of lower back butterfly/chinese symbol tattoos. Ok, butterflies and serial killers are by no means in the same category, but the tattoo artist should say yes or no. After all, their name will forever be attached to the tattoo that they create as well.

  17. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thatks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  18. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thatks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  19. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thatks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  20. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thatks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  21. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  22. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  23. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  24. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!!

  25. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!! SISSY MAMMAS BOY !!!

  26. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!! SISSY MAMMAS BOY !!!

  27. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!! SISSY MAMMAS BOY !!!

  28. MikeManson Avatar
    MikeManson

    I love the fact that these tattoos stirred up so much shit!!!! again thanks for the positive reactions and anyone who didnt like them REMEMBER im LAUGHING my ASS OFF at you!!!!! SISSY MAMMAS BOY !!!

  29. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    Seeing these inspired me to research into what Albert Fish actually did. The whole butching and eating of children was quite unsettleing.

  30. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    Seeing these inspired me to research into what Albert Fish actually did. The whole butching and eating of children was quite unsettleing.

  31. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    Seeing these inspired me to research into what Albert Fish actually did. The whole butching and eating of children was quite unsettleing.

  32. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    Seeing these inspired me to research into what Albert Fish actually did. The whole butching and eating of children was quite unsettleing.

  33. EP1GoNoWhere Avatar
    EP1GoNoWhere

    The person who wants the tattoo has the right to get what they want, no matter how pissed people may get. On the same hand an artist has the right to say no. I’d hope that more artists believe in free speech and personal expression and would do the tattoos than not, racist or otherwise. As much as someone hates the ideals some tattoos may represent, they have the right to express it.

  34. EP1GoNoWhere Avatar
    EP1GoNoWhere

    The person who wants the tattoo has the right to get what they want, no matter how pissed people may get. On the same hand an artist has the right to say no. I’d hope that more artists believe in free speech and personal expression and would do the tattoos than not, racist or otherwise. As much as someone hates the ideals some tattoos may represent, they have the right to express it.

  35. EP1GoNoWhere Avatar
    EP1GoNoWhere

    The person who wants the tattoo has the right to get what they want, no matter how pissed people may get. On the same hand an artist has the right to say no. I’d hope that more artists believe in free speech and personal expression and would do the tattoos than not, racist or otherwise. As much as someone hates the ideals some tattoos may represent, they have the right to express it.

  36. EP1GoNoWhere Avatar
    EP1GoNoWhere

    The person who wants the tattoo has the right to get what they want, no matter how pissed people may get. On the same hand an artist has the right to say no. I’d hope that more artists believe in free speech and personal expression and would do the tattoos than not, racist or otherwise. As much as someone hates the ideals some tattoos may represent, they have the right to express it.

  37. DetroitDolly Avatar
    DetroitDolly

    yes. they can refuse the right to service any customer. just like any other business. besides, tattoo artists are not monkeys for hire. they are highly skilled people that you pay so they can perform a service. you dont tell them to jump and they ask how high. if they dont want to, they dont gotta.

  38. DetroitDolly Avatar
    DetroitDolly

    yes. they can refuse the right to service any customer. just like any other business. besides, tattoo artists are not monkeys for hire. they are highly skilled people that you pay so they can perform a service. you dont tell them to jump and they ask how high. if they dont want to, they dont gotta.

  39. DetroitDolly Avatar
    DetroitDolly

    yes. they can refuse the right to service any customer. just like any other business. besides, tattoo artists are not monkeys for hire. they are highly skilled people that you pay so they can perform a service. you dont tell them to jump and they ask how high. if they dont want to, they dont gotta.

  40. DetroitDolly Avatar
    DetroitDolly

    yes. they can refuse the right to service any customer. just like any other business. besides, tattoo artists are not monkeys for hire. they are highly skilled people that you pay so they can perform a service. you dont tell them to jump and they ask how high. if they dont want to, they dont gotta.

  41. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    probably depends on the exact client, time, place, reasons etc. I think if I were a tattoo artist I would need to discuss it with the client before making a decision.

  42. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    probably depends on the exact client, time, place, reasons etc. I think if I were a tattoo artist I would need to discuss it with the client before making a decision.

  43. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    probably depends on the exact client, time, place, reasons etc. I think if I were a tattoo artist I would need to discuss it with the client before making a decision.

  44. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    probably depends on the exact client, time, place, reasons etc. I think if I were a tattoo artist I would need to discuss it with the client before making a decision.

  45. barelymodified Avatar
    barelymodified

    i think that the majority of people shouldn’t take these tattoos seriously. we have to keep in mind that people are weird. some of this countries worst serial killers were married during their trials when everyone knew they were guilty. so it may just be a strange obsession, i mean i like to research serial killers but i wouldn’t get one drawn on me.
    :?/

  46. barelymodified Avatar
    barelymodified

    i think that the majority of people shouldn’t take these tattoos seriously. we have to keep in mind that people are weird. some of this countries worst serial killers were married during their trials when everyone knew they were guilty. so it may just be a strange obsession, i mean i like to research serial killers but i wouldn’t get one drawn on me.
    :?/

  47. barelymodified Avatar
    barelymodified

    i think that the majority of people shouldn’t take these tattoos seriously. we have to keep in mind that people are weird. some of this countries worst serial killers were married during their trials when everyone knew they were guilty. so it may just be a strange obsession, i mean i like to research serial killers but i wouldn’t get one drawn on me.
    :?/

  48. barelymodified Avatar
    barelymodified

    i think that the majority of people shouldn’t take these tattoos seriously. we have to keep in mind that people are weird. some of this countries worst serial killers were married during their trials when everyone knew they were guilty. so it may just be a strange obsession, i mean i like to research serial killers but i wouldn’t get one drawn on me.
    :?/

  49. eros-demonic Avatar
    eros-demonic

    One of the up, and downsides about freedom of speech.

    You might disagree with someones choices in life. You might dislike who they are, and what they stand for. But to CENSOR them, is nasty.

    I don’t like the KKK. I don’t like racism, sexism, and I think MOST rapists and murders frankly deserve worse than they get. *there are aceptions to EVERY rule…Take, for example, “Dexter” from Showtime. He’s a serial killer. But he kills the right people…some respect in that. Old school justice.*.

    But it’s up to the individual artist to decide where there morals stand. And the individual who gets the tattoo.

    Some artists showcase shock art. They draw, paint, and display horrible things. Rape, murder, and so on. Paint, photo-manipulation, drawings, and so forth. Why should tattoo artists NOT create as they choose?

  50. eros-demonic Avatar
    eros-demonic

    One of the up, and downsides about freedom of speech.

    You might disagree with someones choices in life. You might dislike who they are, and what they stand for. But to CENSOR them, is nasty.

    I don’t like the KKK. I don’t like racism, sexism, and I think MOST rapists and murders frankly deserve worse than they get. *there are aceptions to EVERY rule…Take, for example, “Dexter” from Showtime. He’s a serial killer. But he kills the right people…some respect in that. Old school justice.*.

    But it’s up to the individual artist to decide where there morals stand. And the individual who gets the tattoo.

    Some artists showcase shock art. They draw, paint, and display horrible things. Rape, murder, and so on. Paint, photo-manipulation, drawings, and so forth. Why should tattoo artists NOT create as they choose?

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