On Inclusive Tattooing with Lora Bird

We spoke with Lora Bird (she/they), the founder of Nest Art Collective. Lora grew up in Colorado and is currently based in Denver, CO. They started Nest, a queer-centered, trauma-informed, tattoo shop with private studio spaces for tattooing and a retail area where many local artists feature artwork for sale.

What was your inspiration for starting a tattoo collective?

I have been tattooed and learned to tattoo in spaces that were open. I am a neurodivergent and easily overwhelmed person and found myself feeling distracted in open shops. From a client perspective, it is important that you can feel safe and comfortable while you are getting tattooed. This is especially important for people who have experienced trauma or maybe don’t want to feel so exposed. I like that each artist has four walls and a door that can close. This allows each artist’s personality to be reflected in their space.

What design choices make this a trauma informed space that is neurodivergent centered?

I am very specific about how I talk about Nest Art Collective. Also, the people that work here make this the community that it is. I vet everyone that works here. We are all queer, neurodivergent babies, and we have our own trauma. The majority of people that come in here have had a bad tattoo experience. People also come in reclaiming something for themselves. We try to meet everyone with the same level of compassion and respect.

Can you expand on what the community is like here?

I have built a little haven. Everyone in here and most of the clientele is queer. You don’t have to say it–It just is; that’s who we are. It has been wonderful.

Who are you as an artist and a business owner?

There is a sweet and a salty side to that. The sweet side is: I think that tattooing is so beautiful–especially for people who are trying to reclaim a part of themselves, trying to create their autonomy, or express themselves. I love being able to share that space with people, hear their vision, and make sure that they are getting exactly what they want. I am always so honored when people come in asking for my flash or something in my style.

The salty side is spite. When I started working, I was in a shop where I wasn’t very respected because that’s the culture. There are a lot of shops with very toxic cultures. There are a lot of people that look down on me as a shop owner because I don’t have the most experience. In response, I say, I have the clientele, and we’ve built a beautiful little community where we don’t fight for clients or fight with each other. I have built a little haven, and I am deeply proud of that.

I’d like you to summarize the toxic tattoo artist culture you mentioned. Can you explain what a typical culture in a tattoo shop might look like and what is different at your shop?

It’s hard to summarize because there is a long history here. If you look back at where tattooing came from in America, you notice things like Sailor Jerry and old school dudes. Tattooing is an oral culture that is passed down from mentor to apprentice. There is no regulation, no textbook, no course (not that I am saying there should be). Because of that, it has let this culture of hazing and abuse run rampant.

Right now in the culture, there are three levels. The first level is people who are old-school and remain in that tradition. Then there’s a middle ground of people who are trying to break free of that but who end up manifesting similar issues just with a new appearance. Now, there’s this newer generation who want to do things differently. I am in that third generation—We are not going to deal with this anymore. We are pushing through into the future with a new mentality. If one of my apprentices is better than me, then that’s the goal, and I am glad that we got there painlessly.

What’s next for you and for the shop?

I have been building the business for the last three years. Right now I am ready to ride the wave, travel a little, and enjoy life.

You can find Nest Art Collective on Instagram @nest.art.co