David Allen – Creating Tattoos of Healing, Reclaiming, and Renewal

Adriana LoCicero met David Allen in 2010 during the lead up to her mastectomy tattoo. This would be the first mastectomy tattoo that David would ever perform but the impact of the work would change the trajectory of his career. Since then, he has delivered over 300 mastectomy tattoos to women; creating deeply personal pieces symbolizing healing, reclaiming, and renewal. He has also gone on to become a champion of access to decorative mastectomy tattoos for women who have undergone the physical and emotional trauma of cancer. 

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Co:Create is proud to partner with David Allen to sponsor one mastectomy tattoo. Co:Create will be covering the cost for one breast cancer survivor to receive a mastectomy tattoo by David at his private studio in Chicago, IL. Learn more here

The impact of David’s work on Adriana and hundreds of other women, is a testament not only to his empathetic, kind, and welcoming character but also his incredible talent, creative vision, and abilities as a tattoo artist. David, one of the founding artists on Co:Create, began tattooing when he was 27 years old and specializes in tattooing flowers, cacti, succulents and wildlife. A true multi-hyphenate creative, he employs gestalt principles into his designs to deliver tattoos that effortlessly complement the contours of the body. His work creates a sense of delicacy in the intricate details as well as magnitude in the depth and sensuality. 

David has also become a leading figure at the intersection of art and technology. As the Chief Creative Officer of WNDR Museum, he curated immersive experiences that seamlessly combined interactive technology with artistic expression, captivating visitors with imaginative, cutting-edge installations. All of this is to say that David Allen is a highly prolific, creative person. But the true magic of his work shines through in his ability to connect with human beings in an honest, kind, and genuine manner.

When Adriana, a mother of two daughters from New York, was searching for the perfect tattoo artist, she came across David. An interesting part about Adriana’s story is that she originally found David to create a small tattoo on her back to commemorate her resiliency in life. In the lead up to her meeting with him, she had the thought to cover her mastectomy scar. Adriana had breast cancer when she was just 30 years old and at this point had lived with the scar, a constant reminder of her time with cancer, for 10 years.

“The scar was 10 years old at this time, which was not a horrible scar. I am just so sick of looking in the mirror and being reminded that I had cancer. Every day being reminded of it. It never goes away. And I'm healthy now yet I still need to look at this every time I look in the mirror.”

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She brought the idea of covering her scar to David, who was reluctant at first. At the time, mastectomy tattoos had been around but were typically reserved for recreating the areola shape. David analyzed Adriana’s skin and proposed an elegant floral design. When he placed the stencil on Adriana, she decided to move forward with the tattoo on the spot. Once the tattoo was complete, David asked if he could share some photos as there were many people intrigued and excited by the work. The tattoo on Adriana’s mastectomy scar received attention almost immediately. He realized how impactful this work was — not just for Adriana, but for many other women who had undergone mastectomies and were living with the physical and emotional scars of their experience. 

This decorative approach to mastectomy scarring was a departure from the normative recreation of the areola shape. For many women, by creating a new physical appearance, the tattoos represent the person they are after breast cancer versus recreating who they were before. This is a powerful statement by many of the women David has worked with in taking control of their personal narrative instead of trying to erase what happened.

This has led David to perform over 300 mastectomy tattoos and even begin teaching other artists how to create tattoos for women with similar life experiences.

David’s work, which started with a single woman, has grown into something much bigger. He has helped hundreds of women reclaim their bodies through art, transforming scars into symbols of beauty and strength. Adriana, who has sat with David for hours over the years, was struck by the enormity of the project. It wasn’t just about covering a scar; it was about self-reclamation. The connection between Adriana and David has evolved into a journey of healing, art, and empowerment. 

To learn more and enter to receive the mastectomy tattoo from David Allen, please visit the webpage here.

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