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queerly unique art: tattoos, creative design, & consulting

made with curiosity, love, and hope

heather / hc (she/her/hers) is an angry gemini earth dragon, multiracial, asian, queer, cisgender and gender expansive, disabled, survivor/surviving, anxious, and depressed womxn of color tattoo and visual artist based in st. paul, Mni-sota, which is the hxstorical occupied land of the Dakota peoples.

heather is from the torrance/gardena, california area, the home of the Kizh peoples. she spent her childhood with her Taishanese grandmother eating persimmons and learning about community through food, storytelling, and a good game of mahjong with the aunties.

as a post-structuralist and futurist scholar-practitioner, she has focused on arts-based research and assessment, critical mixed raced studies, womxn of color feminism, first amendment rights, and dismantling white supremacy within institutional practices. she has worked at a multitude of institutions and in a variety of functional areas- with the goal to center and empower the people with the most marginalized and minoritized experiences.


heather is available for art commissions, facilitation and learning experiences, strategic planning, leadership development, assessment and evaluation, as well as organizational development support. for commissions and trainings, please complete this form. 

her more recent work focuses on Asian and Black solidarity and coalition building movements, dismantling anti-Blackness within Asian communities, addressing hxstorical trauma and continued violence against Asian womxn/femmes/elders/youth throughout the COVID pandemic and beyond, and utilizing art as a method of continued intergenerational healing for queer and trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color.

in her spare time, heather loves birdwatching, snuggling loon (her cattle dog), hiking for self-care, playing her ukulele, roller skating, cooking, and causing good trouble.​

hc lou holding up a "twin cities diversity in practice" sweatshirt with a loon and chick on it
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updates & information

what hclou art has been up to...

this year has been full of shifts, expansions, challenges, and doing things i never thought i could. my personal and professional life has dramatically changed- and that has impacted my art practice. 

i will be tattooing full time in spring 2023 at lucky cat collective! heather kim and rebecca smith will be supervising my 200-hour apprenticeship. i am incredibly grateful for their mentorship, friendship, and supervision. if you would like to book a session with me, please request here

i am still taking art commissions and shared learning experiences/consulting inquiries. i am excited to support organizations and individuals in bringing together arts, justice, and cultural healing strategies. please submit an inquiry by emailing me or filling out this form

art is still life changing and saving for me. it has healed my soul in the midst of pain and trauma- and reminded me of the magic of my ancestors. 

to keep up with my shenanigans, follow my journey on instagram

thank you for your love and support, especially this year. in solidarity. 


home: About

upcoming events

visit hclou art near you!

home: Events
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books are open!

december 2022

i'm thrilled to share that i started my tattoo apprenticeship with Lucky Cat Collective full time.

make an appointment request below! 

workshops, facilitations, and offerings

hcl is available for workshops and facilitations for organizations, colleges, universities, groups, etc.

all workshops are a minimum of 2 hours and focus on identity, inclusion, and intergenerational healing techniques. custom workshops are also available as they pertain to equity, assessment, creating healthy workplaces, communication styles, leadership, and more. 

your organization can also request custom art for events or giveaways, or as a way to decorate the workplace! 

former clients include: 

  • education: university of minnesota: school of public health, women's leadership institute, masters of human rights program, gender and sexuality center for queer and trans life, and trio student support services; university of st. thomas; macalester college; hamline university; otis college of art and design; university of california at san diego; university of california at berkeley; university of california at davis; dickinson college; boston university; university of vermont; barnard college; los medanos college; washington county primary schools; oklahoma state university; san jose state university; 

  • corporate: clinician nexus; athleta; what is sour; infobase; sesame street

  • non-profit: science museum of minnesota, planned parenthood; twin cities diversity in practice; minnesota coalition against sexual assault; reclaim; springboard for the arts; the alliance; bridge for youth, free arts minnesota; big brothers big sisters; afternoon printing; dont you feel it too; northern lights.mn; telling   

  • government agencies: minnesota department of human services; state of colorado health disparities and equity; hennepin county libraries

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block print and activism workshop

participants will learn how to carve a block and create their own 5.5x7.5" activist prints.

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zine making workshop

participants will learn about the hxstory of zines and create their own pieces to share in community.

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watercolor affirmation postcard workshop

participants will develop their own watercolor affirmation postcards and dialogue about healing in community.

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professional development workshop

participants can focus on a variety of learning and professional development topics, including, but not limited to: 

  • diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • identity development

  • strategic planning 

  • conflict management and restorative practices 

  • communication styles 

  • assessment and evaluation

  • other workshops by request

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