The Tattooed Gloves By Ellen Greene

Chicago artist Ellen Greene makes leather gloves with sailor ‘tattoos‘. The Tattooed gloves explores the contrast between two opposing traditions. The vintage leather gloves function as a feminine article of clothing and traditional tattoo as a masculine art-form. The gloves evoke a sense of purity, modesty and formality. In opposition the tattoo can suggest sexual freedom, rebellion and criminality. The tension between the object and the image creates a beauty that is both androgynous and non-traditional. This beauty defines her personal aesthetic and inspires the original tattoo designs that adorn these vintage gloves. These gloves are not wearable. They are art.
Glove garment
A glove (Middle English from Old English glof) is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each finger are sometimes called gauntlets. Gloves which cover the entire hand or fist but do not have separate finger openings or sheaths are called mittens. Mittens are warmer than gloves made of the same material because fingers maintain their warmth better when they are in contact with each other. Reduced surface area reduces heat loss.