Artist opens inclusive tattoo studio in Elgin, provides gallery for local artists
Chris La Pelusa Porter arranges her tattoo inks in her personal studio space at Alchemy.
ELGIN — Tattoo artist Amy Porter will provide a gallery for local artists to showcase their art, as well as an establishment for anyone to come receive their “transformative” tattoos inside her new tattoo studio located in Elgin.
Alchemy Tattoo & Gallery will open in April at 107 E. Highland Ave. The tattoo shop will feature the artistic expression of the four tattoo artists at Alchemy, including Porter, and four gallery shows a year.
Porter, 33, said she wanted to create a more inclusive tattoo shop, especially for women and the LGBTQ community, by eliminating the open floor plan found at typical tattoo shops, and instead incorporate individual rooms for the artists to work.
“I feel sometimes tattoos can be extremely personal for people, and having more of a private space allows them to enjoy that experience,” Porter said. “This is kind of just another step in that direction where we are trying to be more of an all-inclusive, women-positive, LGBTQ inclusive space.”
To embrace the vulnerability and catharsis involved in getting a tattoo in Alchemy’s private accommodation, the shop needed a name.
Alchemy established its name because “tattoos are magical and transformative. And, I feel like tattoos transform people in such a beautiful way,” Porter said. “Tattoos can really give someone an opportunity to have a new view and perception of themselves, their body it helps them celebrate maybe a lost loved one.”
Porter said she spent a lot of time as a developing artist at the Elgin Arts Space, so she decided to contribute to the art scene – where she said she’s formed strong connections with other Elgin artists – with her tattoo shop.
“I feel like I’m at a place now where I can start, kind of forging my own path and providing a space for other artists,” Porter said.
Porter said tattooing has been an interesting journey for her up until now. Porter labels herself as a fine artist and a painter in addition to being a tattoo artist.
“I’ve always wanted to do something with the arts,” Porter said.
After completing a tattoo apprenticeship in Elgin in 2016, Porter said she started pursuing her own path by working at tattoo conventions and attending educational conferences.
“I saw that there’s like such a big world out there for tattooing, and education, and like, really, just all these different communities within it. And I thought that was so interesting,” Porter said.
Sparked by the intricacies of the tattoo industry, Porter said she began working at another tattoo studio in 2018 with new artists, where she was able to learn and grow, and she also attended tattoo conventions in other states.
“That was a really great experience because it allowed me to bring my art to people across borders,” Porter said.
Not long after, Porter said she opened her own private studio in 2020 before opening Alchemy.
Through meeting other artists and seeing various tattoo shops in different cities and states, Porter said she noticed everyone had “their own unique way of operating their studio.”
She said she saw a lot of woman-owned tattoo studios in Chicago. “I love their atmosphere really relaxing, really chill. And that is something that I kind of want to bring to this area, because there wasn’t anything quite like that [in Elgin],” Porter said.
Each room in Alchemy – belonging to the four artists – will reflect their own unique artistic voice, Porter said, through room decor and a mural painted by them to mirror the atmospheres Porter visited and loved – so that Alchemy artists can operate their studio space tailored to their vision.
“It really does create a more immersive experience for their patrons,” Porter said.
Porter’s mural in her tattooing space pictures peony flowers because throughout her tattoo career she’s been drawn to a floral aesthetic, Porter said. It took her six hours to finish, she said.
“It’s very beautiful. It’s calming. And it just has such a flow to it that can encourage that creativity,” Porter said.
Porter said artists can reach out to her to showcase their art in the Alchemy gallery. Soon, however, there will be a formal application to fill out on the Alchemy website following the grand opening, Porter said.
When Porter was a newer artist, showing her art in downtown Elgin gave her the inspiration and motivation she needed to pursue art as a career, she said.
“If I could provide that opportunity to other artists that might be nervous about taking that dive into having work at a gallery, I’m really excited to provide that opportunity to them,” Porter said.
By creating different themes for each show throughout the year, Porter said she hopes it will lend artists the inspiration to make new art for the gallery, as coming up with an idea can be the hard part, Porter said.
“We’re going to continue to create that voice of Alchemy over time,” Porter said. “There is going to always be room for growth and expansion and just that true, authentic voice coming through.”
(The Daily Herald first reported on Amy Porter and Alchemy.)
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