On the occasion of the opening of her first studio, Arcane, French tattoo artist Elie Hammond reflects on her journey, inspirations, and vision of tattooing. From her beginnings as a self-taught artist to creating a unique space blending art and community, she speaks about freedom, creativity, and mentorship. An encounter with an artist who places humanity and passion at the heart of her work.
You just opened Arcane, your first shop. Can you tell us about it?
Arcane is, to date, the most significant project I have ever invested myself in. It represents nine months of work during which I first envisioned and planned the entire project, found the space, oversaw the construction, and even carried out part of the work myself before setting up and decorating the studio in a style blending mystical boudoir and Art Nouveau. The studio, which accommodates five workstations and features a lovely space for rest and creativity, finally opened its doors in October, just as I had originally planned.
What motivated you to take on this project?
The studio was born from the desire to create my House: a place that reflects who I am, where everyone can feel comfortable, and an environment that encourages creativity. For me, it’s also a way to close one chapter - my period of transformative journeys - and step into a new one focused on sharing and passing on the lessons I’ve learned along the way, in my own way. I want to work toward a vision of tattooing that is more open and collaborative, putting humans at the heart of creation and creation at the heart of tattooing. I want to offer a true home to those who wish to join me in this endeavor, guided by the values that gave me the hope and strength to see this project through.
Let’s talk a bit about those who are joining you on this adventure—can you introduce the shop’s team?
With pleasure! I’ve brought together artists I know well—some very well—among them my partner, Kilian d’Angelo, and a former colleague and friend, Daniela. She’s a radiant, energetic person who always gives her all in every project she undertakes or joins. I knew her presence would be a real strength for Arcane, so I reached out to her very early, right at the start of the project. Marine Cellesink also asked to join the team, even though she would have to leave Lyon, where she clearly has no shortage of opportunities. I was genuinely touched that the trust she has in me made her want to follow me. Gaker, whose ornamental work is as strong as her personality, responded to my call on social media, and I couldn’t have hoped for a better candidate.
Are you planning to have regular guest artists?
Yes, there will be Baptiste, aka Nuit Noire, and Monkey, whom I’ve been seeing regularly at conventions and elsewhere for several years. And of course, there’s Kilian, who excels in both realism and illustration, and has been an incredible support: he helped ease my doubts when I had them and didn’t hesitate to pitch in with the studio work.
How did you choose the name Arcane Tattoo Studio? Does it reference the famous animated series or the tarot?
Both! Having a short, striking name always makes an impact; that’s actually what inspired me when I saw Alix Ge’s shop, Vacarme. I thought the name suited her perfectly, and even though I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, I’m sure it fits the space she created. I needed a strong name as well, one that felt obvious. Since I’ve been called “the Oracle” for several years, it came naturally. And how could I deny my love for the animated series! It’s a true graphic masterpiece featuring my two favorite League of Legends characters. Even though I’ve never played the game, I was once commissioned to create an illustration where I could choose any LoL character and work freely. I hesitated for a long time between Jinx and Vi, then finally chose Vi. You can imagine my joy when I saw the series’ trailer!
Opening a shop today is a risk, given the current circumstances. How do you approach this?
Waiting too long for the “perfect moment” is the risk of never doing anything. I completely understand that the situation can be frustrating, even discouraging, but I believe every difficulty can be approached with creativity or philosophy. I chose to see this period as an opportunity: the chance to build a team based not only on each person’s artistic and human qualities, but also on how they approach the current context. So I surrounded myself with artists who look to the future with optimism and a firm determination to preserve the position they’ve built in the industry. Bringing together such strong personalities around Arcane is one of my greatest achievements this year.
For you, is this the natural culmination of a career long rooted in the codes and traditions of the tattoo world?
Although I am respectful of traditions, I have never sought to follow them at all costs. As long as I acted with integrity, respect, and loyalty, I have always followed my own path. I would say that this project is more the culmination of a deeply ingrained life philosophy: that of being free. And by that, I mean being free to do things my way, because they make sense, with the constraints I choose. But above all, I want to fight for my own dream, rather than someone else’s.
Early in your career, you visited many shops, met numerous tattoo artists, and worked alongside some major names. What did you take away from these experiences?
I would say that what I gained was as much human as it was artistic and practical. Connecting with great artists from the beginning was crucial for me, as I am self-taught in drawing. They helped me believe in myself, refine my eye, and showed me that it’s possible to be great while remaining humble. I was able to hear stories from another era, develop my tattoo culture, and observe very different ways of practicing and living the art. I also learned about the different ways to manage a shop and saw how certain decisions could impact its life, both positively and negatively. All of these experiences have given me the confidence to take on the challenge of moving to the next stage in my career.
How have these encounters shaped the professional you are today?
Because I formed friendships with some of these artists, giving my best was my way of honoring the time they had devoted to me. I remember one time returning to visit the Leu family with a gift. When I handed it to Titine, she smiled and said with great kindness, “Become a great artist - that’s the best gift you can give us.” I continued moving forward with the idea that if they believed in me, I couldn’t allow myself to do otherwise. Today, I no longer move forward to make anyone proud - even though it was a tremendous motivator for many years - but for myself, guided by very high standards shaped by all of these encounters.
What’s your perspective on the new generations who jump into tattooing overnight?
It’s not so much the fact that people start overnight that catches my attention. We live in an era where everything is quickly accessible, which naturally feeds impulsivity, and that must be taken into account. What matters, in my view, is whether these people genuinely give themselves the means to live up to their ambitions and to the demands of the profession. Ultimately, that is what will shape the professionals they become. What I do notice, however, is that the apparent divide between older and younger generations risks losing part of the knowledge and essence of this craft. I believe that today, the best approach is to welcome with kindness those who love this profession, as they represent the next generation of tattoo artists.
Artistically speaking, can you tell us about your universe and influences?
At the beginning of my career, I was heavily influenced by American comics, but that was before poetry reentered my work. Discovering the neo-traditional style was a revelation, and over time my inspirations shifted more toward classical painters and Art Nouveau. In terms of tattooing, I’ve always been drawn to “hybrid” artists - those who, like me, exist at the intersection of multiple styles, such as Teresa Sharpe, whose work oscillates between new school and neo-traditional, or Filouino, between neo-trad and ornamental, which is a direction I aspire to follow.
You have a particular affection for mythology and the mystical—can you tell us more?
My love for mythology, starting with Egyptian mythology, goes back to my childhood. I’ve always been drawn to what goes beyond reality, which I find rather gray. I can’t quite say whether it was the aesthetics or the myths that captivated me first, but my love for one fed my love for the other, and vice versa. The mystical is more personal. I think a lot, and I love the idea of reconnecting with one’s intuition, exploring what the mind cannot fully explain. I sometimes have my cards read and also practice myself, but rather than seeing it as prophetic, I view a reading as the advice of a friend who wishes me well, encouraging me to look at a question from a different perspective. Perhaps it’s also the belief in having a lucky star that gives me the courage to move forward - and sometimes even to take risks.
What other themes are important to you?
I love dark fantasy and anything with an epic dimension. For example, I have a lucky halberd that is never far from my workspace and that I’ve been carrying from shop to shop for several years. I also enjoy drawing women, skulls, and animals—particularly birds. Nowadays, I also want to incorporate more plant motifs into my pieces. Until I learn how to keep plants alive at home, I enjoy the idea of making them eternal on my clients’ skin.
You don’t just tattoo—you also contributed to a book about cats. Can you tell us about it?
Actually, it’s not a comic book, but a witch’s grimoire! It’s a project by Fanny Bailly, a creator and author I met about two and a half years ago at a tattoo convention. I was immediately drawn to her handcrafted candles and her witchy universe, which led us to connect. But our bond truly deepened when she lost her cat. Having experienced the loss of a feline myself, I could understand her grief and offer emotional support. Later, she asked me to create a tattoo in tribute to her cat, and when she started writing her book, it felt natural for her that I illustrate it. The book first explores the bond between women - and more specifically, between witches - and cats. It then includes a practical section with the basics of witchcraft and rituals to perform with your animal companion, and it concludes with coping with feline loss, including rituals and ways to communicate with the unseen. Thanks to our shared history with cats and the friendship that grew from it, we invested ourselves deeply in this project. We put all our hearts into it to offer the most beautiful tribute to all cats. I also want to thank our agent, Catherine Maillard, for her invaluable advice, and the publishing house Jouvence for all their work and for truly allowing us to express our aesthetic vision for the book.
Is it important for you to keep other creative outlets outside of tattooing?
Absolutely! It’s not mandatory, but I believe that when your passion becomes your job, it’s essential to have other hobbies. It’s important to give creativity a space for experimentation and play - a place where you’re free from the pressure to please clients or meet financial demands. It’s one way to keep the flame alive. Not to mention that what helps us grow as artists also enriches us as tattooers. I’ve explored many different mediums: colored pencils, alcohol markers, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, oil painting, as well as clay modeling and 3D modeling. And honestly, I’d love to have the time to try even more techniques—linocut, photography, lithography… It’s also reassuring to know that, no matter what happens with tattooing in the future, I will always have a way to express my creativity.
+ IG : @eliehammond @arcane.tts Cover photo by Alexandra Bay www.arcanetattoostudio.com Arcane Tattoo Studio 4 RUE ARISTE HEMARD 93100 MONTREUIL
