kelly Doty

The art in Kelly Doty's world is inhabited with a collection of ‘creepy’ but ‘cute’ characters. Carefully posed like lost souls in a vintage tin-type, each tattoo projects an attitude of mischief, malevolence or even regret in their expressions. Self-proclaimed to be socially awkward, Doty is a story teller that speaks clearly thru her art with both images and words. Every character she inks also receives a freshly invented story fully embellished with drama, dry wit and a layer of ridiculousness that always seems appropriate. Even with her increased fame through Ink Master and her traveling convention schedule, Doty can be found tattooing at her shop Helheim Gallery in her adopted home of Salem, Mass.