Hidden pieces of artwork in hotels, restrooms, and other public spaces are referred to as wall tattoos, as are stencils made for use when painting rooms. It is unknown how many public spaces have been decorated with artwork ranging from simple patterns to ornate modern art in the case of secret wall tattoos. Stencils for wall tattoos, in the second sense, can be found in a variety of home improvement stores and range from floral to sports-related designs.
Many artists consider secret wall tattoos to be a subversive way of influencing the world around them. Unless an artist specifically highlights a piece of work, it may go unnoticed until the painting, mirror, or furniture behind which it was painted is moved. Room art is frequently affixed to hotel walls, which makes creating a wall tattoo more difficult. Wall tattoos are also favored some anarchists as a form of expression, with revolutionary or provocative messages embedded in them.
Secret wall tattoos, like graffiti, could be considered vandalism. While the art is often beautiful, it is being applied to a surface that was not designed to be used for art. The piece may be difficult to completely erase, especially if artists use bold primary colors and blacks, leaving the unwitting host with a major cleanup project. Even if the piece is treasured, it will crack, peel, decay, and become unsightly if it is not properly sealed.
Although the origins of secret wall tattoos are unknown, they are likely to have existed for as long as hotel art has. In anonymous locations such as hotels, where artists can be hundreds of miles away the next day, the sense of artistic improvement combined with anarchist act has always had an appeal. Some hidden wall tattoos never see the light of day, while others may be discovered passing tourists, in stark contrast to other subversive art such as graffiti, which can be seen tens of thousands before being covered up.
Joshua Homme, a rock musician who has played with Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal, is credited with coining the term “wall tattoo.” Homme, like many other musicians, spends a lot of time in hotels while on tour, which may have inspired him to leave hidden surprises for future guests, though it’s unlikely he was the first to do so.
Wall tattoo stencils, on the other hand, are intended to be used to decorate a room home owners. They are available in a variety of patterns, ranging from simple strips for running along the ceiling to large, complex designs that can cover an entire wall. Smaller wall tattoos in a variety of colors can be artfully strewn across a wall. Typically, stencils are taped to a painted and prepared wall, and the stencil can be applied with a brush, sponge, or spray paint, depending on the desired look of the final product.