Meet Ren Elam

Ren Elam has never known a life without art. From the moment she was old enough to hold a pencil, creativity has been her constant companion. Inspired by her mother, a talented realism artist who sketched and sculpted, Ren grew up immersed in the world of artistic expression. What started as childhood wonder became a lifelong pursuit of beauty, emotion, and storytelling through art. Today, Ren is not only the co-owner of Inked Under Ground but also an internationally recognized artist whose work has touched people around the world.

A Life Shaped by Art

Art has always been the thread running through Ren’s life. She vividly remembers climbing onto her mom’s bed as a child, watching in awe as her mother brought pencil sketches and sculptures to life. That early influence fueled her own artistic journey. Over the years, Ren has won numerous art contests, been featured in galleries, and even earned a nomination for the Community Art Award through the Governor’s Award in the Arts. Now, as an international artist, she ships her creations across the globe, sharing pieces of her story and Kentucky’s artistry far and wide.

Building a Dream

For Ren and her best friend, Ashlee Horsley, the dream of opening a tattoo studio together started back in high school. About five years ago, the idea began to take shape, and in 2024, that dream finally became reality with the opening of Inked Under Ground.

Ren describes owning the studio as “organized chaos.” She ensures her artists have everything they need—supplies, a clean and safe workspace, and the freedom to grow as creators. For her, it’s about more than tattoos. She encourages her team to expand their horizons by drawing, submitting work to galleries, and pushing their creative boundaries. “We’re one big, happy family,” she says. “We love and respect each other, and we’ve always got each other’s backs.”

An Artist’s Eye

Ren specializes in realism, a style she finds both intimate and challenging. “When you do a realism piece, you break it down to the most basic elements and build on it. Every crease, every shadow, every laugh line, every emotion—joy, anger, or pain—it’s very intimate. I have to pay really close attention.”

She also enjoys surrealism, comparing it to “a fever dream—fuzzy and strange,” as well as fine line work, which she loves for its delicate, dainty look. Beyond tattooing, she often creates hand-drawn charcoal pieces, appreciating their hazy, atmospheric quality.

Thoughts on Art

Ren believes art should be celebrated in the present, not just after an artist is gone. She pushes back against the old saying that “artists don’t become famous until they’re dead,” calling it a dangerous mindset that stunts creativity. Instead, she encourages artists to seek recognition and growth now, to keep pushing their boundaries and striving for excellence. For Ren, art is life, and life itself imitates art—through cinema, television, and, most importantly, human emotion.

Advocacy & Giving Back

Ren’s impact extends far beyond the studio. In October, she became a Kentucky Colonel for her suicide prevention work, a cause close to her heart after losing her cousin Bethany to suicide. “Everyone I know has either struggled themselves or lost someone to suicide,” she says. To honor that mission, Ren helps judge an annual art contest in local schools that opens up conversations about mental health among youth—conversations she believes can last a lifetime.

Advice for Artists

Ren’s advice to fellow artists is rooted in her own journey:
“You’ll have success and failure. Learn from your mistakes and take constructive criticism. Never stop pushing yourself. Always be growing.”

A Spirit of Adventure

Outside the studio, Ren is a traveler at heart. She’s visited every state but 16 and dreams of seeing the New England fall colors, Yellowstone National Park, and eventually Europe. She loves visiting art museums and national parks, sampling local food, and talking to people everywhere she goes.

Looking ahead, her goals are as bold as her art: to become a famous artist, or maybe win the lottery—or both. And if fortune comes her way, she plans to use it to help others.

Follow Ren’s art page for more of her artwork, and feel free to follow her Instagram!