The Foyer – Southampton City Art Gallery

The Foyer features a changing programme of exhibitions from local and emerging artists alongside community and arts groups.

The City Art Gallery’s Foyer Exhibition Space, located at the base of the stairwell to the main entrance of the Gallery and City Library, offers a unique opportunity for artists to have their work seen by a diverse audience, including gallery and library visitors, staff, and those passing through the Civic.

The Foyer is dedicated to showcasing the work of local and emerging artists, if you would like to express an interest in exhibiting – more details can be found here…

Once associated with being a social outcast and esoteric subculture, tattooing has increasingly entered mainstream consciousness as a recognised form of self-expression. Tattoos now function as markers of personal history, acts of commemoration, symbols of healing and resilience, declarations of individuality, and aesthetic choices. They offer a means through which people can reshape how they perceive themselves and how they are seen by others.

Lord’s work exists within this evolving landscape, reflecting changing attitudes towards the body and self-representation. Long-held assumptions about who gets tattooed and what tattoos signify continue to dissolve, rendering outdated notions of the ‘job-stopper tattoo’ increasingly irrelevant. As social categories become less fixed, tattooing has emerged as a powerful visual language through which personal narratives are communicated and identities are built.

The act of tattooing itself is inherently intimate. Hours spent in close contact with clients create a unique space for conversation, trust and vulnerability. Tattoo artists often find themselves privy to personal stories, confidences and moments of reflection, occupying a role that extends beyond that of image-maker alone.

This public-facing aspect of the profession is balanced by a quieter, more introspective practice. Away from the tattoo chair, artists devote significant time to research, drawing and design, developing bespoke imagery while navigating the demands of self-employment. In this respect, the contemporary tattoo artist is simultaneously creator, craftsperson and entrepreneur, balancing artistic production with the practical realities of running an independent business.

Through his work, Lord offers insight into tattooing not merely as decoration, but as a deeply personal and culturally significant art form—one that continues to challenge assumptions, foster connection and inscribe individual stories onto the body— and one you can take home.

To find Gareth on Instagram click here…