DOMINIQUE HOLMES ~ ARTIST AND ACTIVIST

London-based Multi-Media Artist Dom Holmes works across multiple disciplines to create works which challenge our ideas of identity, sexuality, mythology and spirituality.

Since immersing themselves in the creative counter-culture of the underground and alternative art scenes in the UK in the early 2000s, Dom has continued their journey of exploring and utilising a diverse range of techniques and platforms with which to manifest their art. They delve into concepts of identity, sexuality and spirituality through abstractions of ancient mythology, folklore and symbology in the modern world, combining traditional and contemporary technique and influenced by their studies in Classics, Ancient History and Fine Art. Their focus on natural form as a subject acts as a vehicle to explore the human connection to nature and our place within the natural world.

Dom combines their self-taught classical Fine Art practice of oil painting with traditional craft skills such as technical pen and ink drawing and print-making to produce pieces and series that express and explore various ways of abstracting, or connecting to, a subject matter. 

Visually, Dom’s works often intentionally highlight the boundaries that exist between inspiration and cultural appropriation in the arts, and between traditionally respected artistic practise and counter-culture, lowbrow art-forms. Since 2019 their primary practice is focused on contemporary oil painting techniques to explore the human connection to nature. Their artwork shows regularly across the UK, including renowned galleries and collections at Stolen Space, The Brick Lane Gallery, The National Maritime Museum and Atomica Gallery, alongside the Free Painters and Sculptors Collective, and has work regularly featured in group exhibitions in the US, Paris and Australia. Their pieces feature in collections across the world.

Dom’s background in tattooing began in 2002. In early 2015, they opened The Black Lotus Studio; an exclusive, private tattoo and art space in East London. While tattooing is no longer their primary practise, the combination of theoretical and practical expertise has seen them regularly contributing to, and consulting on articles and papers, and speaking regularly on the topic, notably at The London Tattoo Convention, Tortoise Media. Their research on Tattoos and Gender Activism has been shared and presented at Academic Establishments including The University of Westminster, where it has been included in MA Sociology syllabus, and at The University of Essex, and The Radcliffe Institute at Harvard. Their continued research on the connections between tattoos and Gender Politics in Western Society is currently being collated into Dom’s second book; an in depth look at the ways in which tattoos have been utilised as a political statement in the ongoing fight for gender equality.

Dom’s first book “The Painted Lady”, an exploration and insight into tattooing and tattoos for women, based on their own experiences throughout their time in the tattoo industry, was published in 2013 by Ryland, Peters and Small.

Dom has built up a diverse portfolio of creative design commissions and collaborations, most notably designing the commemorative 50pence piece celebrating 50 years of Pride in London for the Royal Mint in 2022. They have collaborated with a range of companies including Bulleit, Levi’s, Snog, Bill Amberg, Bepanthen, and Penguin Books, and collaborates regularly with brands including Diesel, Black Pearl and Sauvelle Vodka.

Dom is a prominent activist for the LGBTQ+ community, and is the founder of SheHerTheyThem, a non-profit community building initiative for queer women and gender diverse people. Their important personal experience with their LGBTQ+ and gender equality activism is a prominent, often very obvious inspiration in their work.