Your Body Is Not a Public Art Gallery (And Other Things We Shouldn’t Have to Say)

Memphis Mori
Jul 22
2 min read

heavily tattooed girl in bikini in summer

Just because someone has visible tattoos doesn’t mean their body is open for comments, touching, or unsolicited critiques. We know it shouldn’t have to be said — but here we are.

At GRIM Studios, we believe in consent, boundaries, and keeping your hands (and weird opinions) to yourself. So here’s a quick refresher on how not to behave when someone’s ink catches your eye.

🎯 Tattoos Are Not an Invitation

Yes, that sleeve is gorgeous. No, you may not touch it.

It’s wild that this even needs clarification, but people with tattoos — especially femme, queer, or visibly alternative folks — are constantly subjected to unsolicited touching, interrogations, and borderline harassment about their ink.

Here’s what not to do:

Grab someone’s arm without asking
Pull down their clothing to “see the whole thing”
Say “turn around, lemme see the rest”
Ask “what does it mean?” like you’re solving a riddle

Spoiler alert: you are not owed a tour.

💬 "Nice Tattoo" Is Fine. A Full Interrogation Isn’t.

Compliments? Cool. Conversations? Sure — if they’re invited. But sometimes people just want to buy almond milk without a stranger asking if their neck tattoo hurt.

Acceptable comments:

“Love your ink!”
“That piece is stunning.”
“You’ve got great taste in artists.”

Creepy AF comments we hear too often:

“Bet you looked hotter before all that.”
“What are you gonna do when you’re old?”
“So... are you into pain?” 😬
Unless someone offers to talk about their tattoos, let them live.

🖐️ Consent Includes Compliments, Too

You might think you're being nice — but intent doesn’t erase impact. Especially for femme, queer, trans, and BIPOC tattooed folks, visible ink can lead to everything from invasive questions to literal street harassment.

Your admiration doesn’t give you access. Compliments should never feel like micro-interrogations.

🚫 Don't Be That Person in the Studio

This applies double inside the shop.

You are not a gallery visitor — you’re in someone’s safe space.

That means no:

Loudly critiquing another client’s design
Asking your artist if someone else's tattoo is "healed yet"
Hovering near another station for a better look

At GRIM, we create a studio space where artists and clients feel protected, affirmed, and respected. If you can’t hang with that energy — there are other shops for you (but not really).

🖤 Respect the Ink. Respect the Person.

We tattooed people didn’t get tattooed for you. Not your approval. Not your touch. Not your thinkpiece on how we'll “age poorly.”

We get tattooed for ourselves — for joy, grief, rage, healing, identity, hotness, art, and power. And if you're lucky enough to see it, just remember: you're looking at a person, not a product.