About

Every vessel holds a story.

Hi, I'm Sadie! Mercedes or Saddlies also work! I'm a Nashville-based tattooist, painter, sculptor, and the artist behind Reliquary! ✦

I've been tattooing professionally since 2015, but creating has always been a huge part of who I am. My artistic interests live somewhere between the whimsical, nostalgic, strange, and beautiful. I'm happiest when I've stumbled upon a new fixation that inspires me to make something with my hands.

Whether it's tattoos, paintings, or whatever creative rabbit hole I've fallen into lately, I believe art should be personal, expressive, and you shouldn't be afraid to get a little weird with it. It's been a long and winding artistic journey to get here, and I hope you enjoy exploring it as much as I've enjoyed creating it!

✦Why Reliquary

Reliquary has been a long time coming, while somehow also being created by accident. Over the years, I've explored a lot of different creative paths, and somewhere along the way, it clicked that I wanted a space that could hold all of them. I've always been drawn to things that carry meaning, whether it's a piece of art, an old trinket, or something that sparks a memory. I love the idea that nothing is too small or insignificant to hold importance.

That's what Reliquary represents to me: a home for the things we treasure, the stories we tell, and the art we make along the way. It's a little collection of everything I love, a place where I can create without limits, and somewhere others can come to connect with that same sentiment. :)

✦What I make

I've never been particularly good at sticking to just one creative outlet. Younger me really fought that fact, and I spent years thinking that not having a niche was a problem to be solved. These days, I prefer making room for whatever inspires me and choosing the medium that best suits it. I'm a huge fan of conceptual work with layers of meaning, and I love exploring how the presentation of a piece can help someone connect with the story behind it.

Tattooing is my day job (and one I'm extremely passionate about!), but painting, sculpting, illustration, and experimenting with new mediums are all part of my creative world. My work pulls inspiration from nature, anime, nostalgia, fantasy, and little oddities that catch my attention.

Fine line ✦Illustrative ✦Watercolor ✦Traditional ✦Color ✦Greyscale ✦Whimsical ✦Feminine ✦Fandom ✦Symbolic ✦Ritual ✦Floral

While I frequently work in 2D, my emphasis during my Art Therapy studies was actually sculpture! I think tattooing scratches that same itch because, in a way, it's applying a 2D illustration to a 3D canvas. That canvas just happens to be a human!

✦The studio

I wanted Reliquary to feel like more than just a place to get tattooed, while that is likely why you stopped in haha! It's a little creative sanctuary tucked inside Nashville's historic 100 Taylor Arts Building, surrounded by other awesome artists and creators.

My goal is to create an inviting, comfortable space where people can feel at ease, share ideas, and be themselves. Whether you're coming in for a tattoo, browsing artwork, or just stopping by to see what's going on, I want you to feel like you've stumbled into my little world, but found something that speaks to yours. Most importantly, I want you to feel comfortable and at home while you're here.

✦What I believe

Everyone is an artist. Create what matters to you, and you'll find yourself in the art.

It doesn't always have to be beautiful, profound, or even make sense to anyone else. Sometimes it's about telling a story, preserving a memory, expressing something you can't quite put into words, or simply making something because it brings you joy.

I think creativity thrives when we give ourselves permission to experiment, make mistakes, and explore without worrying so much about the outcome :)