12-03-2025 12:54pm

Don’t miss MI Ink: The Art of Tattoos at Flint Institute of Arts

Don’t miss MI Ink: The Art of Tattoos at Flint Institute of Arts

The Flint Institute of Arts is currently hosting a temporary exhibit, "MI Ink: The Art of Tattoos," which runs through December 7, 2025. Admission is free for people under 12, Genesee County residents, and every Saturday. Adult tickets are $10, while student and senior citizens are $8.

Once considered taboo and associated with criminality, this exhibit presents tattoos as a form of contemporary art. It highlights over 30 tattoo artists from around Michigan. It showcases photographs of tattooed people, artworks created by the featured tattoo artists, and a tattoo parlor. Please note that this exhibit contains mild nudity and may not be suitable for all viewers.

Michigan became the first state in the US to officially recognize tattooing as an art form in 2012. According to FIA, “one-third of people living in the United States have a tattoo and 22 percent have more than one.” They also state that there are 1,150 licensed body art facilities in Michigan.

I recently visited the Flint Institute of Arts specifically for this exhibit. It was my first time at FIA, and I will definitely return. They have a gorgeous Chihuly glass chandelier, glassblowing demonstrations, and a large selection of glass paperweights. Currently, they also feature exhibits from Detroit fiber artist Carole Harris and 200 Years of Japanese Printmaking.