Mind-Bending Illusion Tattoos Reveal Entire Worlds Hiding Beneath the Skin

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Tattoo artist Jesse Rix creates visual magic on the body. With an expert understanding of optical illusion tattoo designs, his trompe-l’œil body art reveals otherworldly scenes hiding just beneath the skin. The crisp lines, master use of perspective, and bold colors create an incredible sense of depth that will make you momentarily think you’re gazing into another universe.

Rix considers surrealism a huge influence on his work, and he gravitated towards the art movement in high school, when he came across the works of Dalí and M.C. Escher. From this introduction to surrealism, he recalls “taking realistic elements and putting them in situations they wouldn’t normally exist.” This idea has translated into his expansive tattoos, which always have a familiar element to them, whether that’s a person or place. It always comes with a caveat, however, and nothing is as it seems. “I’m trying to represent that mindset when you enter into a REM sleep or a dreamlike state and your subconscious comes to the forefront.”

Rix works in a private studio in the town of Keene, New Hampshire. They are open by appointment only and take clients based on an application process. But if the New England town is out of the question for you, Rix occasionally travels to tattoo studios and conventions around the world.

Artist Jesse Rix creates optical illusion tattoos that reveal entire worlds just beneath the skin.

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

A post shared by Jesse Rix (@jesse_rix) on

Jesse Rix: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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