Candice Liberty, owner of Torn Arts Tattoo, has tattooed for more than 22 years. She is a mom, writer and artist. Her shop at 1125 S. Wells Ave. has many of her colorful, abstract and sometimes creepy works hanging on the walls. She has a book to her name, Wonderful Me, from 2015, with art and stories about her life and relationships; she plans to publish another book in the future. With June 13 approaching—the only Friday the 13th in 2025—Liberty talked about the tradition of Friday the 13th tattoos, and what she has planned for the day. You can see her tattoo designs and other artworks at torn-arts.com.
How and why did you get into the art of tattooing?
I actually gave myself my very first tattoo when I was 14 years old with a sewing needle and some India ink out of my mom’s art room. She was an art teacher. I did this not knowing that many years later, I was going to actually become a tattoo artist. I didn’t even think about becoming a tattoo artist until I was going to college for art. My brother Archie (Wood) opened Battle Born Tattoo, and he needed some artists, so I was like, “Hey, brother, like, hook sister up.” That was in 2005, and that’s really where I got my start.
How long have you been at your shop here on Wells Avenue?
I’ve had my shop running going on 12 years now. I opened in 2013; it’s called Torn Arts; I came up with the name years prior, and it has to do with my art that displays some aggressive emotions. It’s like, if you’re being torn apart between decisions. … It wasn’t just a tattoo shop; it also had an art gallery in it.
What is the Friday the 13th tradition of getting a “13” tattoo?
It was actually started by a guy named Oliver Peck, co-owner at Elm Street Tattoo in Dallas. He started organizing the Friday the 13th events in the 1990s, based off of Halloween events, and wanted to do something a little bit more special and give clients and people a way to get a cheap tattoo, and to do as many tattoos as you can in this small period of time. … Then more and more shops were noticing how much publicity it was getting, and somebody came in and filmed it. It spread out from there because it was on TV; that event just spread all over the tattoo industry in the United States. I believe, to my knowledge, it was originally started at $13 for a “13” tattoo.
How many years have you been doing the 13?
I’ve been doing the Friday the 13th event since I first started in 2004.
What was your original price?
$13 was my original price.
And in 2025, what are you charging?
This year, we are at $31.
What type of tattoos do people typically get on Friday the 13th?
Mainly, it’s already pre-drawn—all kinds of traditional and neo-traditional styles. Some of the girls coming in now have been adding anime. We do a large variety of different styles, but we always try to throw in that 13 somehow. I like to do a bunch of horror kind of stuff when I draw my Friday the 13th flash pieces. I drew up an idea about a Venus flytrap, Pinhead, and Pennywise the clown, and I try to do some more creepy, scarier things, especially if it’s a Friday the 13th that falls in October. I consider Friday the 13th to be a customer-appreciation event because of the large discounts that we offer on Friday the 13th, and it’s also a great way to meet and get new clients while giving regular clients a small, fun design at more than 50% off.
I heard there is an event coming up being put on by the Women of Wells group. How are you going to be involved with that?
There are a lot of women-owned businesses on this street, and a friend of mine, Jaime McKeel, who owns Little City Salon, is organizing an event called “Divas Day Out” on Sunday, June 8, from 2 to 7 p.m., at 351 S. Wells Ave. There are going to be tarot readings, a water slide, a bounce house, food trucks, raffle prizes and a photo booth. There will be treats like slushies and popcorn—and adult drinks from Verdi Local Distillery. I’m going to be face-painting for the children. Other businesses will be there, like Dolce Vida (a Wells Avenue psychic), Betty’s fresh thrift and Dress 2 Kill. It’s the first annual event, and we’re hoping for a big turnout.