Margherita Doria - The Collectors

Something has shifted in how we understand tattoos, not only in terms of acceptance, but also in terms of authorship. In 2026, the body is no longer just a surface for personal symbols, but a living canvas curated with deliberate artistic intent. What was once judged almost entirely by technical execution, by the steadiness of a line or the smoothness of a fill, is now being read differently: as a body of work, as a vision, as a signature.
The Collectors is a portrait series built around that idea. The people photographed here are not merely enthusiasts of ink, they are art collectors. However, the masterpieces they acquire are permanently embedded in their skin. They seek out specific hands for specific reasons, drawn not only by skill but by aesthetic: a particular way of composing an image, a sensibility that belongs to one person and no one else.