Fish or Die- Tattoo inspired mosaic artwork

Fish or Die is a bold stained glass mosaic artwork by Allison Eden, created as part of a series of fish-themed works inspired by the graphic language and rebellious spirit of classic tattoo art.

Measuring approximately 30″ × 45″, the piece features a powerful blue koi fish surrounded by vivid orange and coral hibiscus flowers, framed by a banner carrying the unmistakable message: “Fish or Die.”

The composition draws inspiration from the visual vocabulary associated with traditional American tattoo design — strong outlines, saturated color, floral motifs, scroll banners, and instantly recognizable symbolism — while translating those elements into Allison Eden’s signature medium of hand-cut stained glass mosaic.

Created over weeks of meticulous craftsmanship at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn, the artwork is assembled piece by piece from carefully selected stained glass. Every curve of the koi, each scale, flower petal, leaf, letter, and background fragment is individually cut and fitted by hand.

The craftsmanship is especially evident in the fish itself. Layered shades of blue, teal, indigo, and turquoise create movement through the body and fins, while subtle variations in glass texture give the surface the shimmer and depth of water. The surrounding hibiscus flowers bring a flash of warm color and reinforce the vintage tattoo influence of the design.

The result is an artwork that feels both nostalgic and completely contemporary — part marine-life portrait, part tattoo art, and part stained glass artwork.

For sport fishermen and fishing enthusiasts, Fish or Die carries an immediately recognizable attitude: fishing is not simply a pastime, but a way of life. For collectors of tattoo art and contemporary glass, the piece transforms familiar old-school imagery into a luminous handcrafted object that changes as light moves across the glass.

Bold, humorous, and unapologetic, Fish or Die is a celebration of fishing culture, ocean life, traditional tattoo imagery, and the enduring beauty of handcrafted stained glass.

Artwork: Fish or Die
Artist: Allison Eden
Dimensions: Approximately 30″ × 45″
Medium: Hand-cut stained glass mosaic on construction material
Inspiration: Traditional American tattoo art and marine life
Studio: Allison Eden Studios, Brooklyn, New York

What is Fish or Die by Allison Eden?

Fish or Die is a 30″ × 45″ stained glass mosaic artwork by Allison Eden featuring a blue koi fish, colorful hibiscus flowers, and a banner reading “Fish or Die.”

What inspired Fish or Die?

The artwork was inspired by the bold graphic style of traditional American tattoo art, including strong outlines, banners, floral imagery, saturated colors, and marine-life motifs.

Is Fish or Die made from stained glass?

Yes. The artwork is handcrafted from individually cut pieces of stained glass assembled into a mosaic composition at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn, New York.

How long does it take to create an Allison Eden mosaic artwork?

Large figurative stained glass mosaics can require weeks of design, glass selection, hand cutting, fitting, and assembly, with each individual fragment positioned to contribute to color, movement, shading, and detail.

Is Fish or Die suitable for fishing and marine-life collectors?

Yes. The work combines sport-fishing culture, koi imagery, marine-life art, traditional tattoo aesthetics, and contemporary stained glass, making it particularly relevant to collectors interested in fishing, nautical subjects, tattoo history, and glass art.

Does Allison Eden make other fish and marine-life artwork?

Yes. Allison Eden creates custom and original glass mosaic artwork inspired by fish, koi, aquatic life, ocean environments, and other natural subjects, handcrafted at Allison Eden Studios in Brooklyn.