FULL CIRCLE TATTOO II Whitney Wrap

The Blank Slate, located in Poughkeepsie, NY, is a space to create art and make stories come to life, owned and operated by Elva Stefanie, an Afro-Latina self-taught tattoo artist who has fought to make herself and her work known in a white-male-dominated industry.

 

Elva has made it her goal to create art on the skin for people of color. She quickly realized there was a need for tattoo artists of color, especially those who provided art for people of color. Elva was told she was "too dark" and countless clients have shared that they've been turned down by other artists because of their skin tones. It's in Elva's DNA to prove others wrong.

 

Now that she has reached her 10 year milestone, Elva is planning what's next. One of her major life goals is opening a youth art center for at-risk youth and children of color, ages 5-18, in Poughkeepsie, where these services are limited.