As an average American, putting some ink on your skin isn’t such a big deal. Everywhere you look, you see a tattoo. Almost everyone in your neighborhood has one, including the old lady down the street. But you might balk at tattoos all over your body, right?
Your inhibitions are nothing compared to those in the average South Korean family. A single tattoo is considered taboo, especially if you’re a woman. But not everyone lets themselves be limited by societal norms.
Meet Alisha Gory, a South Korean tattoo artist flaunting beautiful marks of her trade all over her body. Alisha has gone from washing dishes to gracing the front page of Inked Magazine with her sultry curves and stunning tattoos.
Despite her parents’ disapproval, Alisha came to the US alone at 18, with nothing to her name but her determination and passion. And somehow, she made it work.
From Seoul, With Nothing
Alisha Gory’s origin story is one rife with determination and relentlessness. It takes extreme amounts of courage to leave everything behind in pursuit of your dreams. But Alisha has never done too well with rules.
When Alisha—who was called Yoo Jung Ha at that time— found her way into the US, she had nowhere to stay and knew no one. She needed to get to her feet as quickly as she could.
Yoo Jung Ha had always been great at drawing. She had come to the US with the dream of being a tattoo artist. According to her, “Tattoos have always captivated me because they are capable of being so personal, so unique and so creative. Body art is an extension of who we are.”
But as an 18-year-old without a lot of experience or skills, her options were sorely limited. Her best choice at that time was to wash dishes. And that was what she did.
But Alisha’s drive didn’t die out. She put money aside as she worked, keeping her mind on her goal. When she had realized enough money, she quit her job and began an unpaid job as a tattoo apprentice.
The grunt work wasn’t so pleasant, but it was there she learned a lot about tattooing that was beneficial when she decided to set out on her own.
Alisha also got a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, clinching a certificate that just confirmed the skill she always knew she had.
The Dark Angel
Alisha’s signature black and grey illustrative tattoos shot her into the fame she enjoys presently, that and her love for her job.
She says, “Tattoos are living and beautiful things and I like to think I have done my bit to change the way Asian women as a collective feel about body modification and body art.”
Seeing that she has multiple tattoos and still looks stunning, she does seem to have a point. She was definitely not out of place on the front page of the May 2021 issue of Inked Magazine.
Alisha currently works with GritNGlory, a rock-n-roll-inspired clothing boutique and tattoo shop in New York’s lower east side. You can follow Alisha on Instagram and Facebook to learn about her ongoing journey.
