Show Us Your Tattoo: Kevin Gillespie

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Photos: Show Us Your Tattoos -- Kevin Gillespie

Former "Top Chef" contestant Kevin Gillespie describes for us his many tattoos. If you'd like to be a part of this "Show Us Your Tattoo" feature, send some information about your tattoos to mbenzie@ajc.com.

Kevin Gillespie, an Atlanta native, is co-owner and executive chef at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta. Gillespie appeared on the sixth season of Bravo's "Top Chef." Gillespie said he has 10 different "subject matters" of tattoos, with some made up of several smaller tattoos. If you want to be featured in the AJC's Show Us Your Tattoo, e-mail mbenzie@ajc.com.

The coloring on both of Kevin Gillespie's arms, although done by different tattoo artists, is very similar. Gillespie's Southern Tribute arm includes a tattoo of a wild boar.

Gillespie desribes his right arm tattoo: It's "an eagle grasping a skull with a sunburst. In traditional tattoo imagery, an eagle represents freedom or overcoming something. The skull is mortality or vice. Due to things that have happened in my personal life, I felt that things were crashing down on me and this tattoo is a constant reminder that I have the ability to overcome. It is very encouraging."

Kevin Gillespie's Southern Tribute arm includes a classic American style portrait of a southern woman.

Some of Gillespie's "Top Artists": Watson Atkinson (Portland, Maine); Pat Carmack (Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta); Jeff Rassier (San Francisco); Kore Flatmo (Chicago).

Gillespie got his first tattoo when he was 18. His parents took him to get it for his birthday. "It is my family Scottish crest and it's on my back," he said. "My dad has the same one. My mom has the writing part. Many of my family members have it."

Gillespie has paid between $50 (a friend who was apprenticing) and $2,700 (his right arm) for tattoos.

Gillespie doesn't regret any single tattoo but said, "I probably should have waited on that friend to finish his apprenticeship before I had him give me the $50 tattoo! I will probably tattoo over it at some point and put the same thing somewhere else at a higher quality."

Gillespie's current favorite is the Gillespie coat of arms. "It's a modified version of the traditional coat of arms. I am proud of where I come from and my family."

Gillespie was one of "Top Chef's" final three contestants who competed for the title in Napa Valley. Gillespie was also voted fan favorite by the viewers of the show.

Gillespie also has 'Aeternus" tattooed on his neck which is Latin for eternal. If you want to be featured in the AJC's Show Us Your Tattoo, e-mail mbenzie@ajc.com.

Gillespie was named one of Mother Nature Network's top 40 Chefs Under 40 in November 2009. If you want to be featured in the AJC's Show Us Your Tattoo, e-mail mbenzie@ajc.com.

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Kevin Gillespie, an Atlanta native, is co-owner and executive chef at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta. Gillespie appeared on the sixth season of Bravo's "Top Chef." Gillespie said he has 10 different "subject matters" of tattoos, with some made up of several smaller tattoos. If you want to be featured in the AJC's Show Us Your Tattoo, e-mail mbenzie@ajc.com.

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