Grimes Unveils Bold Face Tattoo: A Decade-Long Journey to Self-Expression

Grimes has unveiled a daring transformation.

At 37, the artist, known by her real name Claire Boucher, revealed a prominent face tattoo on social media, expressing surprise at its unnoticed debut on Wednesday, October 23.

“I spent about a decade preparing myself emotionally for a face tattoo,” she mentioned in the caption accompanying the image of her new ink—a subtle red circle adorning her left eye and brow. “But I suppose I doodled on my face too often, as no one noticed—not even my parents, even after watching the video, lol.”

Grimes, who co-parents three children with her former partner Elon Musk, praised her tattoo artist, Glyphomancer, for pioneering a unique and creative approach, especially in facial tattoos. She commented, “There’s a genuine beauty, delicacy, and innovation here in my opinion.”

Grimes explained that she believes tattoos are “in a crazy renaissance period that’s sort of underappreciated.”

Grimes also told fans to “excuse the insane pic” she posted of her blonde hair going in any direction it pleased. “Had to find one without makeup so there wasn’t any blue,” she explained.

The singer further opened up about the ink via X, writing, “Idky this face tattoo is imperceptible but just for the record it’s my fave tat.”

Fans shared their mixed reactions in the comments section. “No way I thought it was a scar while watching ‘Artificial Angels’ 😭,” one wrote, referencing Grimes’ latest music video. Another joked that the tattoo looked like an infection, writing, “Ringworm ain’t a tattoo, fam.” A third troll wrote, “Looks like a surgery scar.”

Other fans complimented Grimes’ new look, writing, “You’re so fine.” Another gushed, “Cute!!! I never noticed it! I thought it was just art makeup!!” while a third commented, “Love it.”

Grimes seemingly brushed off unkind words and even got in on the fun by commenting with a photo of a girl who had fought in a war and had a scar on her face.

This isn’t Grimes’ first eccentric tattoo. In 2021, she showed off a massive back tattoo in white ink inspired by “alien scars.”

“Full back in white ink by @tweakt w sum help from the alien computer brain of @nusi_quero,” she wrote at the time. “Don’t have a good pic cuz it hurts too much and I need to sleep haha, and it’ll be red for a few wks, but gna be beautiful alien scars.”

In March, she showed off another white ink design on her shoulder that was “hand-poked” by Glyphomancer.

Grimes shares son X Æ A-Xii, 5, (pronounced X AI), daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, 3, and son Techno Mechanicus, 3 with Musk. Musk is also the father of Nevada, who died at 10 weeks old in 2002, twins Vivian and Griffin, 21, and triplets Kai, 19, Saxon, 19, and Damian, 19, whom he shares with ex-wife Justine Wilson. He also shares four children with Shivon Zilis: twins Strider and Azure, 3, Arcadia, 20 months, and Seldon Lycurgus, 8 months. In February, Ashley St. Clair claimed Musk fathered his 14th child, Romulus.