El Paso artist Francella Baca has long been a powerhouse in the world of tattooing and now she’s taking that power to the walls of a museum. On May 4, Baca will open a new solo gallery show at the International Museum of Art, a bold moment for an artist who has spent nearly two decades redefining what tattoo culture can be. It also marks a historic first: Baca is the first tattoo artist ever to be featured in a solo exhibition at the International Museum of Art in El Paso.
A Tattoo Trailblazer Turns the Page
Baca’s roots in tattooing run deep, both personally and in the cultural tapestry of El Paso. She picked up a tattoo machine in her teens not to ink skin, but to create framed works of art. That same curiosity quickly grew into a career, and for almost 20 years she’s been a powerful voice for women in tattooing, building a name rooted in grit, precision, and an ever-evolving aesthetic.
Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. She’s been painted by Chicano art legend Gaspar Enriquez, which is not something to overlook, and has inspired a new wave of artists unafraid to blur the lines between fine art and street culture.
Dreadful Things & Beautiful Transformations
Francella is also the owner of Dreadful Things, her signature shop and studio space in El Paso. The name, a clever nod to her dreadlocks and love for the macabre, echoes the layered duality of her work: both dark and radiant, visceral and elegant. Her space, lined with oddities and curiosities, became a safe haven for artistic experimentation.
Even through economic challenges and brief closures, her following never faded. When she reopened Dreadful Things after a brief hiatus, the return felt like a rebirth, for her space and her creative spirit.
Gallery Debut with Ink in Its Veins
Her new exhibition at the International Museum of Art won’t abandon her past, it embraces it. You can expect to see a few tattooed synthetic skins displayed like canvases but you should be ready to see more of Francella’s painted works, merging her identity as a tattooist with her evolution as a surrealist painter. One section of the gallery will even be staged like a tattoo shop, giving museumgoers a chance to experience the tools, layout, and cultural energy of a tattoo space, especially those who have never stepped into one. The show is more than just a milestone, it’s a declaration that tattoo art and artists belongs on gallery walls too…