Ann-Adele Blassingame shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Ann-Adele, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m definitely more of a wanderer in this life, for sure. Something I don’t want to do when I grow old and I look back on everything is regret not doing something because I was scared or I was too wrapped up in something else to allow myself wiggle room. When I go after things, I go after them with an intense longing for exploration. I seek new experiences and opportunities that I might not have thought I even could. But I’ll never regret trying those things, even if they didn’t work out in the longer term.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ann-Adele Blassingame, and I am a queer, Black artist currently based in Colorado. My brand is Babu Tatu LLC, and I do so much with it! As an artist, I am very passionate about exploring different mediums and techniques to find new ways of creating. Currently, my favorite mediums to work in are printmaking and jewelry, but I’ve been slowly exploring a bit more painting recently.
On top of my traditional visual arts, I am also a tattoo artist. The reason I got into tattooing was because I deal with skin conditions like eczema, which led me to have a poor body image, and I wanted to change that. Tattoos opened my eyes and allowed me to love my skin again. Being a Black person myself, I also recognized how excluded Black and Brown people were from the tattoo industry, often being outcasted due to stereotypes and darker skin. I aim to help change this and generate more opportunities for POC in this field because it is so important to have a rich diversity of perspectives within art spaces, and especially tattooing.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My partner, Michael, has certainly helped me to more clearly see my value, my strengths, and my path, in a way that makes me want to push myself and exceed my own expectations. Without his encouragement, I would not have made so many of the connections I have today, so I am very thankful for that. When I first met him, I was beginning to set up for an art show I had done with my best friend, Nikaiya. We kept bumping into each out and I had invited him to the show’s opening. Since that day a few years ago, he has continued to show up for me again and again. If I ever doubted myself, he has been there to help me back on my feet and see my true purpose. Who knows where I would be today without him.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The first time I fully realized that I could be vulnerable was when I came to university in 2019. Away from our parents and living independently, I realized that if I wanted to get past my hurdles, I had to allow myself to open up and be honest about those hurdles. Sitting in a printmaking critique one time, another student had put up their art, and it was all too familiar to me, what their art was portraying. And I had felt so excited to be seen through someone else’s art. This moment helped me realize how powerful my art really could be if I fully poured myself into it, not holding back out of fear of vulnerability.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Community. Community is such an important value in many cultures, but especially within Black culture. Within marginalized communities, sometimes the best thing you can lean on for support are the people around you, Without community, I would not be where I am today getting to make art for myself and others. One of my favorite aspects of going to university is getting to build and join a variety of communities which help propel you further in your life goals.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m definitely doing what I was born to do, even though I didn’t know it when I was younger. When I was younger, I was told I would be a doctor or a lawyer, and while those definitely sound awesome, I don’t think either is what I was meant to do. What I feel I was meant to do is help people feel more themselves through art, whether it be a woodblock print or a necklace or a tattoo. Maybe my path is meant to look different in the future, maybe it looks the same, but I know that what I’m doing right now is the right thing. A few years ago, I was inspired by someone to try tattooing, even though I didn’t think it was possible for me; I hope I can inspire others in the same way, to pursue their wildest dreams and never look back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://babutatu.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babu.tattoos
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-adeleblassingame
- Other: Booking Link
https://venue.ink/babu.tattoos
