Empire Arts Gallery builds community through exhibitions and tattoos

Empire Arts Gallery in Kirkwood, founded in 2020 by Brandi Smart and Malia Rifkin, operates as a hybrid space combining an art gallery, a tattoo studio, and a boutique. Gallery coordinator and tattoo artist Jessica Locklar, along with manager Sara Slick, run the space, hosting exhibitions for local artists while also offering tattoo services in a welcoming, femme-operated environment. The gallery fosters community by blending art sales, exhibitions, and tattooing in a symbiotic model.