Elisheba Israel Mrozik, is an internationally-acclaimed multidisciplinary artist from Memphis, holding a B.F.A. in Computer Arts from the Memphis College of Art (2006). Widely recognized as a global award-winning Tattooist, Elisheba’s expansive artistic journey spans from Tennessee to international shores.
As a senior in high school, after completing a foreign exchange student program in Japan, Elisheba’s interest in identity as a black woman began to appear in her work. Upon relocating to Nashville in 2007, she delved into varied realms, including graphic design, anime, and contemporary fine art. She played a role in the Nashville Black Artists Renaissance and showcased her work at venues like Columbia State, The Ha Factory, Boheme Collectif, and Corvidae Gallery. Her dynamic live murals graced the Goo Goo Dolls’ Buffalo, NY event, and she made a notable appearance as a featured artist at the New York Comic Con in 2010.
Elisheba’s intrigue in tattooing sparked the birth of the One Drop Ink Tattoo Parlour in 2011. Notably, she emerged as the first licensed black artist in Middle TN. Her accolades include the title of Indieville TV’s Nashville Tattoo Artist of the Year (2015), coupled with prominent appearances on renowned platforms like Inkmaster and BET’s About Her Business.
2019 saw Elisheba joining forces with eight other visionary artists for a curated exhibit at The Frist Art Museum. Subsequently, she unveiled her immersive installation, “Blood at the Root”, conceptualized in synergy with her husband, under their avant-garde art consortium, EXO:DUS.
Elisheba’s literary contributions are no less impressive. Her trilogy of coloring books, which include titles like “Notable Nashville,” “Sovereign Goddess,” and “Nashville Strong,” have captivated readers and even bagged awards, such as Nashville’s Best of 2020 by The Nashville Scene.
Honored with the 2020 Nashville Emerging Leader Award, Elisheba now channels her talents towards crafting monumental public art that resonates with profound community significance. Her influential leadership at the North Nashville Arts Coalition underlines community-building and amplifies support for emerging artists of color.
In recent years, Elisheba has intensified her contributions to public art. Her collaborations with esteemed institutions like Vanderbilt Divinity School, Crossroads Campus, and Pinnacle Bank have resulted in iconic murals at venues like Slim and Husky’s, 5th and Broadway, and the National Museum of African American Music. Her trailblazing achievements continued into 2021 when she became the first black woman to secure a Public Art commission from Metro Arts and the City of Nashville, culminating in an unique interactive installation at Kossie Gardner Sr Park. 2022 and 2023 had her featured in shows at The Parthenon and Tennessee State University.
2024 saw her continue to create large scale work like The Elizabeth Duff Transit Center Mural for WeGo and The Black Country Mural for Vanderbilt. She also completed over 10 murals in several Schools.
Post her first solo show at NKA Gallery, Elisheba is on the cusp of redefining corporate aesthetics. Her largest and most ambitious mural to date- The Z. Alexander Looby Library Mural debuts in 2025. As she embraces the future, her focus sharpens on curating transformative, high-impact public art installations, creating meaningful, personal fine art and continuing her work as a culture bearer through the ancient, sacred art of tattoo. Undoubtedly, Elisheba’s overarching mission remains unaltered: to intertwine Fine Art with Community Purpose.
