Author | Lightnews

Grae Salisbury

@graesalisbury.bsky.social

330 followers 160 following 96 posts

Tattoo Artist & Illustrator 👽💖🌈 They/them Covid conscious business 😷 Books Open 🖤 Living on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations (so called Victoria, BC, Canada). 🖤 Flash Books Open 🖤 https://linktr.ee/graesalisburystudios

linktr.ee

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Nov 24

Hi all! I am a tattoo and studio artist. 🖤 I love creating queer whimsical art and tattoos that feature fine lines balanced with black work. I will be posting digital works, tattoos, and more here!

Red, orange, and gold embroidery on stretched brown burlap. The textures are soft and the person is naked and sitting on the floor. We see a tangle of limbs with stitched tattoos decorating them. The persons hand is tracing a tattoo of a calla Lily.

A mess of breakfast items floating before a yellow background with breakfast spelled out in messy overlapping text. There are golden pancakes being flipped, coffee being poorer out of a retro carafe into a blue mug, a basket of blue berries and three eggs in a cute clay egg container, and below there are peach and blue berry plastic jam containers and fresh sliced peaches.

A freckled pink hairs light skinned person looks over the head of a snarling dog they are snuggling. The wolf like dog is wearing a pink studded collar and the person rocks a monocle. Only their heads are visible in a sea of green plants and white dogwood flowers. The messy butter yellow text reads “somtimes I wish I had fangs like you”.

Two naked people tenderly kiss. They are framed by a Polaroid yet their heads extend beyond its border. This is a black ink piece on a white background but for their tattoos- each person has multiple red tattoos. Red outlines of hearts flat up from their make out sesh and the “photo” is labeled “Lust” with a small red heart. The two people have long hair. One seems to be holding the Polaroid camera with their arm outstretched and the other is a fat lady sweetly pulling her partner in. It also has a watermark haha but that’s not very exciting

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · 6d

Flash day on Oct 31st!

Update: fully scheduled!

#yyjtattoo #vancouverislandtattoo #qttr #queerart #queerartist #tattooflash #tattoo

Flash sheet of fine line loosely Halloween themes tattoos. Tattoos in red and black ink.

Flash sheet of fine line loosely Halloween themes tattoos. Tattoos in red and black ink. Includes min sizes and prices.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · 6d

Very excited about these new wall hangings I’ve been sewing up! I have more coming soon!

#vancouverisland #yyjtattoo #vancouverislandartist #queerartist #queerart #wallhanging #gay #sapphicart

A photo of a pink wall hanging with long fringe and bows of two chrysanthemums making out.

Photo of the wall hanging on a green cutting mat surrounded by sewing supplies.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · 11d

Blackberries 🖤

#yyjtattoo #qttr #floraltattoo #botanicaltattoo #legtattoo #kneetattoos #finelinetattoo #yyjbusiness #yyjarts

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · 11d

Huckleberry tats

#yyjtattoo #qttr #floraltattoo #botanicaltattoo #legtattoo #kneetattoos #finelinetattoo #yyjbusiness #yyjarts

Black ink upper thigh huckleberry branch.

Black ink lower leg huckleberry branch framing the clients knee.

Side view of black ink upper thigh huckleberry branch.

Photo that showcases how these asymmetrical huckleberry tattoos are in conversation and balance each other.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · 22d

Say no to Trump-style borders and surveillance of the Strong Borders Act. Demand respect; treat people with care and dignity. Withdraw Bill C-2! #stopbillC2 act.gp/40oxP2E

Tell Carney: We don’t want Trump-style borders & surveillance state!

Sign this petition to defend our human rights and privacy

act.gp

Reposted by Grae Salisbury

The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org · 25d

Literary icon Patricia Lockwood's new novel, Will There Ever Be Another You, is written from inside the mind of someone suffering from neurological symptoms of #LongCOVID.

Read more from @mldavies.bsky.social: bit.ly/3Kt2TcJ

References to COVID-19 and especially to Long COVID, in life and in art, remind people that the pandemic never really ended. But for people like Lockwood and for me, who were both debilitated by Long COVID, forgetting is impossible.

Morgan Leigh Davies

Patricia Lockwood explores the depths of Long COVID in the new novel “Will There Ever Be Another You”

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 26

Coverup!

#coverup #tattoo #vancouverislandtattoo #qttr

Reposted by Grae Salisbury

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Sep 23

“We are told by leaders that we are the future. But when it comes to the ongoing pandemic, our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes.”

Incredible speech by Violet Affleck who warned about the ongoing dangers of COVID & Long Covid, & advocated for masks and clean air at the UN today!

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Reposted by Grae Salisbury

Safe Air Schools UK @safeairschoolsuk.bsky.social · Sep 20

#SafeAirSchools
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEpk...

Denver Public Schools equips every classroom with air quality, heat sensors

YouTube video by CBS Colorado

www.youtube.com

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 9

California poppies and crushed can tat!

#tattoo #yyjtattoo #qttr #blackinktattoo #queerartist #vancouverislandtattoo

Black ink tattoo of a crushed drink can with California lilies growing out from behind it. It is located on a pale person’s lower shin.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 9

Little moody eye tat 🖤

#eyetattoo #tattoo #blackinktattoo #vancouverislandtattoo #qttr

A moody last eye tattooed on a white person’s upper inner forearm.

A moody last eye tattooed on a white person’s upper inner forearm. This photo is taken far enough back so that we can see her collection of patchwork pieces that include a rose and dancing skeleton.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 5

Road from My Own Private Idaho 🖤

#qttr #finelinetattoo #tattoo #smalltattoo

Fine line tattoo on a person’s forearm from the movie My Own Private Idaho.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 5

Recent forearm pansy wrap!

#qttr #vancouverislandtattoo #blackwork #blackinktattoo #tattoo

A mock up of a drawing of stylized pansies on a forearm.

Stylized black ink pansy tattoo on a light skinned person’s forearm.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Sep 5

I was thrilled to create this year’s Queer and Trans Farmers’ Market poster!

I absolutely love working on projects like this and encourage you to reach out if you are looking for an illustrator!

#disability #queer #trans #illustration #illustrator #covidconsious #artist

Beige poster of large tote overflowing with farmers market goods and surrounded by adorable sketches of market goers, venerable goods, flowers and sunshine! Poster includes location and time details, access info, as well as sponcers’ logos. The tile “queer and trans farmers’ market” is in large deep green text on the front of the tote.

Reposted by Grae Salisbury

Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · Aug 11

US press release:

"the researchers found that these viral peptides were demonstrated in each subject, but not each blood draw, in the EVs of Long COVID patients & were not detected in a separate control group of pre-pandemic EV samples"

www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

#LongCovid #PASC

News Release 11-Aug-2025
Researchers identify a potential biomarker for long COVID
Extracellular vesicles in study participants contain SARS-CoV-2 peptides

Peer-Reviewed Publication
The Translational Genomics Research Institute

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 11, 2025) — Researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, and the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center have identified a potential biomarker for long COVID.

If the findings of their study are confirmed by other research centers, the biomarker could be the first specific and quantifiable indicator for confirming long COVID. Currently, clinicians confer a diagnosis of long COVID based upon a collection of symptoms that patients develop after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jul 29

A very fun chicken custom for sisters 🖤

#blackinktattoo #disability #disabilitypride #pride #pridemonth #disabilityjustice #trans #queer #qttr #queerart #queerartist #yyjtattoo #yyjarts #yyjartist #yyjbusiness #tattoos

Photo of two sisters arms with their new black ink chicken tattoos! The tattoos are about 3” and located on the one sister’s forearm and one sister’s bicep. The chickens have on little babushkas and are tattooed in a simple blackwork style. They are both adorable and classy!

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jul 29

I recently had the pleasure of being invited to speak on The Self Advocate! Link to listen on my website!

#disability #disabilitypride #pride #pridemonth #disabilityjustice #trans #queer #qttr #queerart #queerartist #yyjtattoo #yyjarts #yyjartist #victoriatattoo #vancouverislandtattoo

A screen shot of the link to The Self Advocate podcast episode with Alice Klein and guests from Grae Salisbury’s website. A blue box with with lettering says “New podcast episode. Tattoo Arts. The self advocate.” Under this is written in black text “The Self Advocate Podcast Episode. July 2025. In this episode, Alison Klein talks with Kenofswards and Grae Salisbury about their tattoo careers, disability, and visual arts. If you have any questions or comments, please email Alison Klein at alison.Mira.klein@gmail.com.”

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jul 29

Looks so good! Still have to post that grey wash before and after! 😅 it’s just not as high up on my todo list as other things! 😊

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jun 12

Recent healed photos from my healed photo competition 📸

#yyjtattoo #tattoo #tattoos #stamptattoo #qttr #healedtattoo

Two black ink stamp style tattoos of flowers on a persons leg and arm.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jun 12

Healed foxglove piece 🖤

#yyjtattoo #qttr #foxglovetattoo #tattoos #foxglove

Healed black ink tattoo of a foxglove on the back on a light skinned person’s calf.

Further back photo of a healed black ink tattoo of a foxglove on the back on a light skinned person’s calf.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jun 12

Some little bees 🐝🐝

#yyjtattoo #qttr #beetattoo

Two small black ink bee tattoos on the front of a persons shoulder.

Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · Jun 12

I would love to be added! Thank you for making this!! 🥰

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · May 11

Flash Day Alert! Mini tattoo flash day today and next Sunday at Black Cat Tattoo! Available designs are on this posted flash sheet. Looking forward to it!

#yyjtattoo #vancouverislandtattoos #qttr

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · May 8

“You’re in love. You are loved.”

What were these future telling paper folding toys called? I have so many memories of them, but I don’t remember if they have a name.

#yyjtattoo #yyjarts #yyjartist

A black ink tattoo of child’s future telling paper folding toy surrounded by clover.

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Grae Salisbury @graesalisbury.bsky.social · May 5

Love the scribbly shadows on this one 🖤

#yyjtattoo #tattoo #qttr #orchids #victoriatattoo #vancouverisland #yyjarts #yyjartist

A tattoo on a light skinned person’s upper thigh of a kneeling woman holding up a vase overflowing with orchids. The position makes it look like she is offering them up or offering them as a gift. The tattoo is done in a line would style and the mood is calm, reflective, etc.