Rising Stars: Meet Chloé Besson of Denver, Berkley neighborhood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloé Besson.

Chloé, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started as an interdisciplinary artist based in Boulder. I was basically working in any medium I could get my hands on – murals, illustration commissions, food, product, and wedding photography, etc.

After getting hired to do the illustrations for a San Francisco based publishing company for a new book they were putting out all about witchcraft, I got approached by folks who loved my illustrations and wanted to commission me to design their tattoos.

After designing a few people’s tattoos, I started to realize that, if someone was to get my artwork tattooed on them, I wanted to be the one to hold that space, tattoo the art, connect with the human getting the piece.

From there, I whole heartedly committed to pivoting my career to tattooing.
And the rest is history.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Hell no. I work for myself, by myself, with myself. Everything I have accomplished I have had to figure out on my own. I have had to work up enough passion and courage to jump off cliffs, hoping the water would be warm when I land.

That is all to say, being an artist was something that I never thought would actually support my life financially. When I was graduating college with a BFA in printmaking and photography, I was met by some with a pity pat on the back and a “good luck” that actually meant “power to ya kid, hope you make it out alive.”

And as a female tattooer, I was met with closed doors, an impossible ladder I was supposed to crawl up, and doubt as to whether I could make it happen or not.

That being said, as a creative, as an artist, as a human, you either have fire in your belly or you don’t. And if you have fire, you either use it or get burnt by it.

So, to all the aspiring artists and tattooers, spit fire.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an interdisciplinary artist gone tattooer. My specialty is fine line tattoos.

Hmm what am I most proud of? I would have to say the space I hold. As a tattooer, the pillars of my practice are safety, inclusivity, and comfort. To the best of my ability, I provide a space that makes my clients feel like they are eye to eye with their artist – a space in which their life experiences, traumas, opinions, and preferences matter, a space in which they are welcome no matter how they arrive. I am a trauma-informed tattooer and I care deeply about creating an intentional space for the intimate act of tattooing.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Read about what you’re passionate about. Speak up. Talk to everyone. Ask questions. Put yourself out there. And trust yourself even when you’re unsure.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.madetattoodenver.com
• Instagram: @chloejanetattoos

Image Credits
@chloejanetattoos