In order to introduce you to the incredibly talented tattooists and piercers responsible for the stunning pieces we see coming out of Obsidian Arts, this series of Meet the Artist is to do just that! In this feature we want to introduce you to one of Obsidian Arts’ co-owners: Debbie Moore.
Located on 3 Cross Street Lower, Obsidian Arts is a custom tattoo and body piercing studio and art gallery in Galway city’s artistic Latin Quarter. Co-owned by the creative duo Debbie and Caz, the Obsidian team are all specialists in their art form and can create the perfect piece of body art for you, no matter whether that’s the piercing you’ve always wanted or a tattoo designed specifically for you.
In this edition of our Q+As with Obsidian Arts’ highly skilled resident artists, we got chatting with body piercer Debbie, to learn more about Obsidian Arts, discover how she began piercing and what is her favourite part of her job!
To book a piercing appointment with Debbie head over to her Instagram page @debbiemoorebodyart to see some of her most recent work and then hit the link here to arrange your appointment.
above: photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Q. Have you always wanted to have your own studio?
Yes it’s always been my end goal. Myself and Caz have had this plan for many years. It took us some time, a lot of hard work and support from family and friends, but finally having a studio with both of our visions is a dream come true.
Q. When you started Obsidian Arts did you set out with any specific goal for the space?
We did indeed. We are both lovers of art so we wanted to incorporate that into our studio. Having a gallery, events and a creative space for local and international artists was very important, and having the studio be a safe space for everyone was also a goal. As a member of the LQBTQA+ community myself, we feel it is particularly important to create an atmosphere in which people know they will always be treated with dignity and respect while working with us.
Q. How long have you been piercing and when did you set up in Galway?
I have been piercing and working in Galway for over 10 years now. I moved my life from Dublin to Galway for my apprenticeship not knowing anyone. Caz was actually the first friend I made here. I’ve been lucky to have worked in studios in Cork and Limerick, but for me Galway is my home now it’s where I got my start and always where I wanted to settle.
Q. How did you get into doing piercings in the first place?
I became interested in piercings as a teenager. I had surgery on my ears as a child and kind of had a complex about them until I started piercing them. I loved how little pieces of metal changed my whole perspective on how I saw my ears and I wanted to do that for others.
Q. What is your favourite placement for piercings?
I love styling ears whether it be stacked lobes, a Rook or a Daith piercing. Finding the right piercing and jewellery to compliment a person's anatomy and style is a favourite of mine.
above: Daith Piercing by Debbie
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing how happy people are when they look in the mirror at their new piercing. Some piercings are to help people take charge of their body, some are to cheer themselves up after a bad day, and some people just have a spontaneous piercing day. Whatever the reason, for me to be part of that and to be trusted, that is the best part of my job.
Q. What advice would you give people before they get a piercing?
Research your piercer. Check out their portfolio, and don’t be afraid to ask questions: are they using single use sterile needles? - Not piercing devices or guns. Also, whether the type of jewellery they use is implant grade titanium, 14k/18k Solid Gold? - Not surgical steel or pvd coated jewellery.
You are trusting your piercer with your body so make sure you are getting the best service and jewellery.
Q. What was your first piercing?
I begged my mam for years to get my lobes done. When I was around 10 years old she finally agreed and I was so scared after the first piercing it was an hour or so before I let the poor man doing it to pierce my second lobe. Things have changed a lot since then, haha.
Q. What was the first piercing you gave someone else?
The first piercing I ever performed was an eyebrow piercing on Caz. I was so nervous before it but it went great. Caz is still alive, and hundreds of piercings later it’s still something I love and want to do for as long as I possibly can.
above: double vertical Labret piercings by Debbie
Feature photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
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