Forget about LA Ink, Esther Garcia’s Butterfat Studios brings unparalleled technique and vision to the Chicago body art scene. Rendering her pieces with such skill as to actually give ink the feathered, impressionistic look of an oil painting, Garcia says her work is “often based on non-traditional sources, such as textiles, architectural elements, and paintings by non-tattoo artists.” A quick look at her web gallery will reveal such unorthodox designs as food kitsch, an ornate lace doily, a decorative chainsaw and even a reproduction of a Rembrandt painting. Her new private studio in Logan Square will feature traveling guest artists from around the world and work by her apprentice Genevieve Yapelli. But she’s generally fully booked and not taking new clients, so get creative if you want her attention.
