Imagine this: you walk into a gallery, find a piece of art you love, and buy it. But the story doesn’t end there – you’re offered not just to hang the painting on your wall, but to make it a part of your body. This is exactly the challenge artist Dan Withey is throwing down at his new exhibition in Adelaide.
Art That Becomes Part of You
As part of the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival, which runs in August and features over 700 free events with more than 11,000 artists, Withey is presenting his Flash Tattoo Art Sale exhibition. Around 30 works will be available for purchase – and for application to the skin. This is not just a sale of paintings; it’s an invitation to a permanent engagement with art.
“I’m always surprised that anyone would want to get a tattoo of my work,” Withey admits. “It’s pretty weird, but I’m open to it.” The artist, who is 40 years old, doesn’t have any tattoos himself. He believes that in his youth, he might have made a bad choice, for example, getting a tattoo of the band Metallica on his forehead – which, he says, would have been a big mistake.
Neon, Penguins, and Friendship
The exhibition is taking place at the Neon Pineapple Tattoo studio, opened two years ago by Tom Green – a former graphic designer and Withey’s classmate. Their friendship has lasted for over 20 years, and it was this connection that formed the basis of the project. Green, who does about 200 tattoos annually, believes the exhibition is a unique way to connect two worlds: art and tattoo culture.
“It’s just a different format of collaboration,” Green explains. “A great opportunity to bring together two spheres that rarely intersect.” While preparing for the opening, he even allowed a stencil of one of Withey’s works to be applied to his leg – although it’s not yet clear if he will become a permanent wearer of this art.
Tattoos as Art and Service
Green emphasizes that a tattoo artist must be not only an artist but also a psychologist, a doctor, and a service specialist. “You work directly with the client, manage their pain, pleasure, create a design that harmoniously fits the body,” he says. Sometimes clients come with the most unexpected requests: for example, a woman who wanted a tattoo of a fictional code resembling zodiac signs, in skin tone, so that it would be invisible.
What Else at the Exhibition?
For those not ready for permanent body modification, Withey has prepared other options. Ceramic works, as well as paintings, will be presented at the studio and are available for purchase. His art can be seen in the Art Images Gallery and Segwood Galleries in Adelaide. Additionally, from September, another of his exhibitions – Finite Bounty – will tour the regions of South Australia.
Context of Tattoo Culture
This project is a prime example of how contemporary art is penetrating tattoo culture, blurring the lines between gallery and studio. In recent years, more and more artists have turned to tattoos as a form of self-expression, and tattoo artists have turned to art as a source of inspiration. Withey’s exhibition is not just a sale of paintings; it’s an experiment with the perception of art, its longevity, and personal significance.
Event Details
- Title: Flash Tattoo Art Sale
- Artist: Dan Withey
- Location: Neon Pineapple Tattoo, Adelaide
- Dates: August 7 – September 13, 2026
- Opening: August 7, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Admission: Free
The exhibition is not only an opportunity to acquire a unique work but also a chance to become part of a story where art becomes part of the body, and friendship becomes the foundation of creativity. Even if you don’t decide on a tattoo, it’s worth visiting the studio to see how two worlds – art and tattoo – meet and create something new.