NEW HAVEN — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., sat in a New Haven tattoo studio on Sunday to add a second piece of body art to her collection — and for the first time, she had it done in her home state.
DeLauro, who got her first tattoo — a rose on her upper left arm — in Washington, D.C., in 2023, returned to Connecticut to mark another family milestone: one of her granddaughters recently turned 18. The congresswoman chose a small swallow on her other bicep, a companion to the rose she and her granddaughter Rigby receive
At the shop
The tattoo was applied at Hope Gallery Tattoo in New Haven by artist Joe Capobianco. The shop’s atmosphere blended casual conversation and music: funk played on the stereo as Capobianco used traditional coil machines and bright inks during the session. DeLauro’s footwear — multicolored, striped leather shoes — was visible as she relaxed in the chair while the artist worked.
The visit drew little fanfare beyond the normal activity of a busy studio. Another customer with purple hair rolled up her sleeve as Capobianco cleaned and wrapped fresh work, and a longtime client, David Hartman, a former spokesman for the New Haven Police Department, noted that Capobianco has done a dozen pieces on his arms.
Family tradition and meaning
The congresswoman has linked her tattoos to family celebrations. She said the initial rose was an 18th birthday present for her granddaughter Rigby; Rigby got a matching floral tattoo on her back. This latest ink, the swallow, commemorates the coming-of-age milestone for another granddaughter, Sadie.
| Tattoo | Location on body | When | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose | Left upper arm | 2023 (in Washington, D.C.) | Shared birthday tattoo with granddaughter Rigby |
| Swallow | Right bicep | 2026 (in New Haven) | To mark granddaughter Sadie’s 18th birthday |
Conversation and context
While most of the appointment was light and focused on craft and family, the conversation turned briefly to politics. Studio owner Capobianco and DeLauro discussed their Italian heritage and tattooing careers. They also expressed frustration about national politics.
"Do you have anything positive to say about the direction the country is going right now," Capobianco asked, to which DeLauro replied, "Only that people are beginning to understand the consequences of these actions."
The exchange referenced recent national events; DeLauro noted ongoing public reaction following a photograph of former President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One that included a poster referencing the potential demolition of a prominent arts venue.
Local reaction and broader significance
The tattoo session illustrates how public figures sometimes engage with constituents outside formal settings, blending personal life with public identity. For DeLauro, who has represented Connecticut in Congress for many years, the visit was quietly symbolic: choosing an in-state tattoo parlor underscored her ties to the community she serves.
For Hope Gallery Tattoo and local artists, the appointment is a reminder of the varied clientele that shops in Connecticut attract — from longtime patrons like Hartman to high-profile visitors who choose to commemorate personal milestones through ink.
Practical notes
DeLauro’s tattoo was done following standard studio practices: the artist prepared small single-use containers of colored inks and used conventional coil machines. The shop followed routine aftercare steps, wrapping the new work when the session concluded.
- Her second tattoo, and first in Connecticut, was a swallow on the right bicep.
- The first tattoo, a rose on the left upper arm, was done in Washington, D.C., in 2023.
- Both tattoos mark 18th-birthday celebrations within DeLauro’s family.
The appointment drew no formal public announcement from DeLauro’s office. It was, according to those present, an intimate moment of family commemoration carried out in a local business.
Marcus Feldman, State Correspondent
