PERSONAL PROJECT · SKIN DEEP
Looking beyond
the tattoos.
A portrait and video
series about identity,
perception
and second chances.
Former gang members are photographed, their
tattoos are digitally removed, and the two
portraits are presented side by side—inviting
us to examine how quickly appearance shapes judgment.
SKIN DEEP · LOOKING BEYOND THE TATTOOS
PORTRAIT SERIES · BOOK · EXHIBITIONS
THE PROJECT
What changes when
the tattoos are
removed—but
the person remains?
Skin Deep is Steven Burton’s long-term portrait and multimedia project about former gang members rebuilding their lives beyond the identities written on their skin.
Each participant was photographed as they were. Their tattoos were then digitally removed and the altered portrait was shown to them alongside the original. The paired images and resulting conversations examine first impressions, stigma, identity and the possibility of change.
The project was created in collaboration with participants connected to Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles and became a published book, exhibition and internationally recognized body of work.
THE PROCESS
One person.
Two readings.
01
Portrait
Each person is photographed
directly, without spectacle or
performance.
02
Transformation
Thee tattoos are digitally removed
while the expression, pose and original
photograph remain unchanged.
03
Conversation
The altered portrait is returned to the participant,
becoming the starting point for a conversation
about identity, memory and change.
SELECTED PORTRAITS
The same person,
seen differently.
01
Marcos Luna
“The person you see in this picture is a human being—just like you.”
02
Dennis Zamoran
“I don’t want to return to who I used to be.”
03
Francisco Flores
“I can’t remember the last time I saw myself this way.”
04
David Pina
“I look younger. It feels completely different.”
05
David Williams
“I am going to show these pictures to my mom because she hates my tattoos.
She hates them. She can hardly look at me.”
THE BOOK
A lasting record
of the project and
the people who
trusted it.
Published by powerHouse Books in 2017, Skin Deep: Looking Beyond the Tattoos brings
together the paired portraits and first-person interviews in a permanent record of the project.
“The images in this book are not meant to capture ache and loss, so much as it wants to hold out hope that union with each other is always possible.”
FATHER GREG BOYLE · FOUNDER, HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES
SELECTED RECOGNITION
Seen, shared and exhibited
around the world.
Skin Deep has reached an international audience through editorial coverage, broadcast features, exhibitions and the published book.
EXHIBITIONS · PRESS · COLLABORATION
Continue the
conversation.
For exhibition opportunities, press requests,
speaking engagements or collaboration
around Skin Deep, please get in touch.