Ancient Ink: Mark Perrott

Photographer Mark Perrott has spent the past several decades documenting the ever-expanding tribe of tattooed Americans. He began his study at Island Avenue Tattoo in Pittsburgh, PA in 1979, and since then has explored tattoo parlors all across America. 

In Perrot’s current series, ANCIENT INK, he turns his camera to the now diminishing tribe of highly decorated and graying Americans. Through photographs and accompanying interviews, Perrott introduces the viewer to dozens of individuals, including Brian, a retired steelworker and “ink addict” from the seventies, Marge, a 74 year-old former Cleveland police officer, and Henry, an 87 year-old WWII era Navy veteran. “These subjects,” Perrot says, “speak to me of resilience, loss, mystery, and the emancipation that sometimes comes with growing old.”

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.