The latest spot where artists can show off their inspired wares has just opened up in Grovetown. At this shop, however, the customers are the canvas.
“My belief is we’re in a new renaissance age,” said Vince Willis, owner of Art Collective Tattoos & Piercings, which had its ribbon cutting ceremony Friday for its second location on Gateway Center Boulevard.
Willis has been a professional tattoo artist for about nine years, after being furloughed from his job as a programmer at Augusta Technical College. Having always been an artist at heart, Willis ultimately turned to tattooing to earn decent money doing something creative.
He opened his first location of Art Collective in February of 2020, “right when COVID hit.” The resulting challenge fosters the kind of environment in which Willis believes artists can currently thrive.
[adrotate banner=”55″]
Tattoos are looked upon, stereotypically as the counterculture, said Willis, “so it really didn’t affect this much. Honestly, having a brick and mortar building just solidified what it was supposed to be.”
The second location has had a soft opening for about two weeks. Its grand opening was ushered in with an eager crowd, some who came to get tattoos or piercings, that received the “VIP experience” that Willis emphasizes is a priority for the business. The event was also catered with Colombian cuisine with from Augusta restaurant Little Colombia 123, and featured musical performance by local artist AE the Cool.
Paintings of Nikola Tesla, Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo at the new, second location of Art Collective Tattoos & Piercings in Grovetown. Staff photo by Skyler Q. Andrews. Crowds gathered at the ribbon-cutting event for the new Art Collective Tattoos location in Grovetown. Staff photo by Skyler Q. Andrews. 
Wolf tattoo design, an example of the custom work available at Art Collective Tattoos, whose new location in Grovetown opened Friday. Photo taken from the Art Collective Tattoos & Piercings Facebook page.
Willis’ decision to open a second location in Columbia County was born from the overall mission of Art Collective, which entails nurturing the arts and arts education in the community.
“We’re trying to leverage tattoos to encompass in an all arts school, as well as art therapy,” said Willis. “We have big plans for Columbia County.”
Willis aims for the arts to see a wider prevalence and appreciation, particularly in the school system.
It’s something that I want my kids to experience when they go through the systems of education, that they have are available,” said Willis. “It saved my life, and it saved a lot of my friends, so I know it could do something for somebody else.”
Art Collective Tattoos & Piercings is located at 721 Gateway Center Blvd in Grovetown, and 3010 Washington Road in Augusta. For more information, visit its website at https://art.umbrellait.org/.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
