Tattoo artist Nik Square has us seeing stars. In his surreal blackwork body art, he combines elements of the galaxy with our civilization. Cats, flowers, and statues collide with constellations and planets—but it often appears that the universe is consuming its host. The blackness of cosmos and the scale of planets like Saturn strip away the identity of the figures they’re fused with and make them nearly unrecognizable. It’s as if Square is reminding us that the things we treasure on Earth are no match for what’s beyond the atmosphere.

Images © Nik Square