hi! my name is alli shelly. i use she/they pronouns.

tattooing…

I started my apprenticeship under ariel cafarelli when we built Tailorbird Tattoo together in august of 2015. we built tailorbird to be a shop centered around thriving artists and clients, being LGBTQ+ positive, and providing a space that honors and explores history, nature and art. I loved that shop and community so deeply!

after many years of living in Minneapolis we closed down Tailorbird in the spring of 2022 and I moved back home to colorado. I am so excited to be back, close to my mother and in the mountains I love. I am beyond grateful for all scared tattoo for welcoming me to the shop! I love the clientele I built in minneapolis and am so thankful for everyone’s support over the years. I look forward to the new adventure of being in Colorado and building something new.

my tattoos…

My work is largely influenced by botanical and scientific illusion, art nouveau, folk art and the natural environment around me. I mainly lean towards blackwork, dot-work and high contrast.

tattooing has always been a way for me to reclaim and feel whole within my body. it has not only empowered me to love my body, but it has taught me about my own boundaries and ways to advocate for myself. I have so much love for tattooing and the process and feel excited to share that with others. i believe everyone should feel comfortable and heard throughout the tattoo process. there is a variety of reasons we adorn our bodies and i feel grateful to be part of that experience. all skin tones and body types are the perfect canvases!