By: Samantha Draxler
In a city pulsing with bold design and loud expression, one Chicago tattoo artist is gaining attention for something quieter: a fine line, a memory, and a signature that lasts forever. Meet Ellory Shutan—an emerging tattoo artist whose work often extends beyond just ink.
Specializing in fine line tattooing, Ellory has developed a reputation for creating emotionally resonant “remembrance tattoos.” These minimalist pieces replicate the actual handwriting of a loved one—often a parent, grandparent, or close friend—using their signature or a meaningful phrase they once wrote. The result? A simple, elegant tattoo that carries significant emotional weight. Her artistry has connected with people looking to turn grief into grace and memory into something physical they can carry with them always.
Ellory’s path to becoming a tattoo artist wasn’t necessarily a straight one. A graduate of DePaul University, she initially questioned whether she could transform her artistic abilities into a sustainable career. But her love for storytelling and human connection found a powerful medium in tattooing. In particular, her ability to combine technical precision with emotional sensitivity led her to this distinctive niche.
“There’s something sacred about helping someone hold onto a piece of their person,” Ellory shares. “Every tattoo I do in someone’s handwriting isn’t just a design—it’s a legacy.”
Photo Courtesy: Ell Shu Tattoo
Each remembrance tattoo begins with a piece of someone’s past. Clients come to her with birthday cards, letters, post-it notes, or even old legal documents—anything with a loved one’s unique handwriting. Ellory scans the original and painstakingly traces each stroke, ensuring that every quirk—the way a letter slants, a flourish on a capital letter—is preserved. The tattoo is then gently inked into the skin using her signature fine line technique, resulting in a clean, minimalist design that looks as if it were written directly onto the body.
What makes her work especially meaningful is the emotional gravity it holds. Clients often arrive in moments of transition or loss. Some are grieving; others are celebrating a memory. All of them are seeking a connection. One client requested her late mother’s final note, written on a grocery list. Another chose her grandfather’s signature from a decades-old birthday card. In every case, the moment the tattoo is completed, there’s often a quiet pause—then tears, then gratitude.
“It’s not about how big or intricate the piece is,” says Ellory. “It’s about what it means. You’re wearing something that came from someone you loved.”
While remembrance tattoos are her specialty, Ellory also creates custom fine line pieces, often minimalist botanical designs or single-line illustrations. But it’s the handwritten tributes that have gained notable attention, especially on social media. On TikTok and Instagram, she shares time-lapsed videos of the tattoo process, along with the stories behind them. The comments section is often filled with people sharing their own memories or asking how they can schedule their own appointment.
The appeal is clear: in a world that moves quickly and often forgets, Ellory’s tattoos encourage us to pause, remember, and honor.
Photo Courtesy: Ell Shu Tattoo
Her work is as much about presence as it is permanence. There’s something profoundly grounding in having a tangible piece of someone you’ve lost. It becomes more than art—it becomes a part of your identity, a reminder that love doesn’t disappear, it simply evolves.
For Ellory, this work is personal. She views each tattoo session as a small ceremony. “People are vulnerable with me. They share their grief, their joy, their stories. I never take that lightly,” she explains.
In a studio filled with soft lighting, soothing music, and a quiet reverence, Ellory Shutan is doing more than creating body art—she’s offering healing, often one line at a time.
And in every signature she preserves, she’s demonstrating that the tattoos that resonate deeply aren’t always the boldest. Sometimes, they’re the ones that whisper.
