Candice Liberty, owner of Torn Arts Tattoo, has tattooed for more than 22 years. She is a mom, writer and artist. Her shop at 1125 S. Wells Ave. has many of her colorful, abstract and sometimes creepy works hanging on the walls. She has a book to her name, Wonderful Me, from 2015, with art and stories about her life and relationships; she plans to publish another book in the future. With June 13 approaching—the only Friday the 13th in 2025—Liberty talked about the tradition of Friday the 13th tattoos, and what she has planned for the day. You can see her tattoo designs and other artworks at torn-arts.com.
How and why did you get into the art of tattooing?
I actually gave myself my very first tattoo when I was 14 years old with a sewing needle and some India ink out of my mom’s art room. She was an art teacher. I did this not knowing that many years later, I was going to actually become a tattoo artist. I didn’t even think about becoming a tattoo artist until I was going to college for art. My brother Archie (Wood) opened Battle Born Tattoo, and he needed some artists, so I was like, “Hey, brother, like, hook sister up.” That was in 2005, and that’s really where I got my start…