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.

Xed Lehead Chestpiece

This typically brilliant tattoo (on Bean) is by the ultra-talented — and I’m happy to say, soon to be interviewed here — Xed Lehead at Into You in London, UK. If you continue reading after the break you can see the rotary tattoo machine that he uses (I assume many people have never seen one before as they’re not that common).

xed-chestpiece-1.jpg

xed-chestpiece-2.jpg

Comments

36 responses to “Xed Lehead Chestpiece”

  1. Jacques Avatar

    I absolutely love this guys work, really need to try contact him about a piece I want done.

  2. hullwork Avatar

    that is some slick work. the machine is badass too, looks like a cool homebrew project

  3. jake Avatar

    love it, amazing.

  4. Caspar Avatar
    Caspar

    I love Xed’s work. I’d love to get work done by him someday …When I have money and concrete plans of what I want done that is 😛

  5. 5kem5 Avatar
    5kem5

    i managed to wangle an appointment with him late last year his work schedule is crazy,i need another one at least,his works the finest ive ever seen in that style..oh nice chestpiece!!

  6. Dani Avatar

    Yay! Gotta say, this chestpiece looks even more amazing in person! 😀

  7. albeans Avatar

    i saw Dina’s boobies!!! hahaha.

    Soooo envious. one day i too will have xed tattoos…

  8. missduveaux Avatar

    I wonder what the secret behind that machine is…

  9. panson Avatar

    Shannon, You should do an interview with iam:BEAN because She’s Awesome!!
    o^_^o

  10. pox Avatar

    8. There’s no secrets, it’s a rotary machine. The advantage of using them in this instance is that they are very lightweight and it is much less strain on the hand/wrist for doing dotwork such as this.
    Cool chestpiece too!

  11. ben Avatar

    The machine xed use are mostly custom made by him .
    I guess the secret is not in the machine more by who’s using it . I tried using one ages ago and have now a huge black scar. I never said I was talented…

  12. IAM: Psyx Avatar
    IAM: Psyx

    I like her bruises 🙂

  13. noah matteson Avatar
    noah matteson

    wow, bad ass tattoo, plus i have to admit, i love pierced nipples. i had mine done, wasn’t too bad. but on females, much more attractive.

  14. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    Wow, that is beautiful!

  15. Jesseska Avatar
    Jesseska

    that’s absolutely gorgeous. is that smudged ink, shadows, bruising, or all of the above on her left arm area?

  16. sublimerotica Avatar
    sublimerotica

    Jesus Christ that looks good.

  17. Brett Perkins Avatar

    I had some work done on my left forearm by Ardee Allen (Skinworks Tattoo, Newport Beach, CA) a few years ago with a rotary machine. She used the machine often for solid blackwork. I don’t know if it was my imagination or not but the rotary did have a slightly more intense feeling when it was used.

    The benefit of it besides the machine being lighter (benefit for the artist), is that the motion is a little more direct. The needlbar is attached to a cam that’s offset on the motor, unlike a traditional machine which is an electro-magnet. The things that leave more room for error on a traditional machine (contact points and springs adjustment, etc) could be argued to also be the things that would make those machines more superior in the hands of an artist that understands machine tuning science.

    I have yet to be tattooed by a pneumatic machine (runs off an air compressor), but I’ve held one and they are super lightweight. I’ve seen some great results too from the artists I know that use them.

  18. Marshall Avatar

    I’ve been in love with Xed’s work since I first saw it in Body Art, but I’ve never read an interview with him. Make it so, Shannon!

  19. nature223... Avatar

    man…that is so visually striking…great work

  20. Giles Avatar

    Xed is a true pioneer. Just managed to find Beyond Belief on Ebay which has some of his performance work in. I just wish the waiting list to be tattooed by him wasn’t so long !!!

  21. adam Avatar
    adam

    rotary machines with liek a 28 mag kick ass for heavy/solid black. i will be reqyesting that on any future heavy blackwork.

    and i thought the rotary was also easy to take than the standard gun, pain-wise.

  22. deadite_666 Avatar

    I love symmetrical ink.

  23. Alottagutsalittlevision Avatar
    Alottagutsalittlevision

    Yey for Dina 😀 beautiful work matey xx

  24. Sam Avatar
    Sam

    Xed Lehead: so badass, even his nitrile gloves are black.

  25. Inktman Avatar
    Inktman

    Rotary machines are nice and quiet. The late Barry Louvaine in London used them for all of his work. Outlines and round shaders. His machines looked heavier and were of a nice “professional” matt chrome finish.

  26. demoiselle Avatar
    demoiselle

    That’s beautiful, but may i ask about the bruising on her side??

  27. RooRaaah Crumbs Avatar

    demoiselle – Maybe she likes being bonked about whilst bonking.

  28. curiosa Avatar
    curiosa

    dina wins! it is a very nice tattoo

  29. Dina Avatar

    🙂 Thanks for the nice words!

    There is only one bruise, on my arm. The rest is ink smudge, as the photo was taken just after finishing. Though Roo’s suggestion is certainly more interesting.

    Xed is a fantastic dude, and I will certainly be hitting him up for more work in the future! Looking forward to the interview!

  30. Fallen Angel Eyes Avatar
    Fallen Angel Eyes

    Wow, this chestpiece is gorgeous. Looking forward to the interview!

  31. Jesika Avatar
    Jesika

    I dont think those are bruises OR shading on the breast area, are they? (the one on the arm definately is!) It looks like its a very fresh picture and theyve just wiped the ink and blood off. I could very well be wrong though! 🙂

    Im loving this guys artwork. The last picture posted with the red is the most gorgeous tattoo Ive seen in a long time.

  32. 5kem5 Avatar
    5kem5

    theyre 2 different artists jesika.

  33. crashedupderby Avatar
    crashedupderby

    nice boobs.(well did anyone say it yet?)

  34. iam:Pomegranate Avatar
    iam:Pomegranate

    The angle of the nipple piercings work well with the chestpiece, which is very nice btw. . . I can’t get enough of dotwork.

  35. Arawyn Avatar
    Arawyn

    Wow, maybe I should sometime ask this guy to do something for me! The nipple piercings are like made for the tattoo, they fit perfectly together 🙂

  36. Hins Avatar
    Hins

    oh i wanted those \ / angle on my nipples!

    *lick*

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