Meet Shiv Tuck | Tattoo Artist, Writer, and Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shiv Tuck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shiv, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
One of the most important books I have read in my whole life is Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi. While most of their work is devastatingly beautiful, it was one of the first books where my experiences had a voice. I acknowledge that I am not a Nigerian immigrant like their main character, but her mental health journey and self-discovery is contextualized in a way that removes pathology and discrimination and instead seeks to embrace and even celebrate differences. Emezi’s writing is also just so fluid and ensnaring, and hearing them read their own words in audiobook format was such a moving experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think my art comes from a place of multiplicity. In everything I do, there is this touch of some sense of plurality or expansiveness. One of the things that I am most proud of creating, outside of the beautiful tattoo work I get to do, is a mural I created for the Fort Collins Mural Project in 2022. It’s a continuous linework drawing of trans and non-binary people’s faces set on a colorful background. It’s the first large scale thing I’ve created, and it was a catalyst to me stepping into my own positive self-regard and confidence. That piece helped me move out of a bad work situation for me and give me space to grow and explore in the ways I really needed to.
Being a trans artist isn’t always easy, and I actually lost quite a few clientele when I came out. I had even considered the percentage I would lose in doing so, but the thing that outweighs the loss of people who didn’t want the real me was finding community in places I wouldn’t have been brave enough to explore. Now I am getting to work with and on the people who are actually my people, who respect me, and not just people who tolerate me at best.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of the things that I find the most joy in sharing with other people is the creative aspects of my community. One thing I love to do is to look up the Fort Collins Mural Project mural map and travel through Old Town Fort Collins to experience the wealth of public art there. It also helps that some of my favorite restaurants are along the way. Scrumpy’s has always been a huge favorite as is Big Al’s. Having good gluten free options and allergen conscious eating spots are a must for any traveller. Next, we are off to the local bookstore (Old Firehouse) to browse for some good downtime reading. Of course they are getting a great tattoo from myself or my coworker, Christel, at Ginkgo Tree Tattoo. Dance is also something I love to share with my friends, so they would absolutely be joining me for my classes at Impulse Dance and Fitness. Otherwise, let’s stay home and chat, catch up, and laugh about all the good times in the past and all those to come.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My partner Felix and my close friends, including Aja Milburn, who gave me a place to work when my life went up in flames, are both incredible Felix has also helped me become the most authentic version of myself possible. In terms of career, Christel Perkins at Ginkgo Tree Tattoo literally saved my tattoo career. I tell her this frequently, and while she tries to shrug it off, she really did. Without her giving me a place to land, without the continued encouragement and dedication to growth and development, I would still be floundering. She has helped to find a path that I want to trek instead of apathetically letting myself be swept away in someone else’s river.

Website: www.prismaticartstattoo.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiv.tuck

Image Credits
Tattoo Convention Photo by Christel Perkins