A skeleton sat in a booth inviting curious passersby to spin the wheel. As it slowed, each person’s fate was revealed. One future read “death by Civil War reenactment” and another read “death by scorpion.” A painting across the room depicting the Grim Reaper floating behind a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup suggested death would come to someone after their typical morning routine. Images reminiscent of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead encourage viewers to remember those who have already passed away.

Ranging in theme and style, each representation of death was part of the Tattoo Factory Gallery’s newest exhibition, “It’s Your Funeral.” Using the idea of death as inspiration, artists from around the city brought their unique interpretations to explore a more fun side of a serious subject.

“Most of the artists [who] we have participate in our shows are low-brow artists,” said Beth Cisco, co-founder of the gallery, 4443 N. Broadway. “Basically I just wanted to come up with something that would be fun for the artist to draw and fun for people to look at.”

Drawing from tattoo artists at the Tattoo Factory, next door at 4441 N. Broadway, and its own artistic circle, Cisco and Mitch O’Connell, the gallery’s other owner, put a call out to fill the gallery’s exhibit. While their expectations typically start low, artists always deliver. The final art count for “It’s Your Funeral” left paintings layered two deep around the room.

“A lot of people did 3-D images, some people drew monsters, a lot of just scary images,” O’Connell said. “I did one of the Apocalypse where everyone is dying and they’re going to heaven or they’re not. It’s lucky whenever we want to do a show, people really make an effort and come up with really interesting pieces.”

While the proximity of Halloween caused some artists to turn to representations of classic monsters for their pieces, others took a more humorous approach. Doug Pagacz, creator of the “Wheel of Death,” took all the serious, weighty questions people generally have about death into consideration and put a spin on them.

“Like I put in my piece, we all have it coming,” Pagacz said. “I’d rather laugh about it and try to kid about it than get really depressed about [it].”

His piece was a success on the exhibition’s opening night. People kept running up to Pagacz, telling him their chosen death and running back to spin the wheel. According to Pagacz, the people in the crowd seemed really excited to find out how they were going to die.

On opening night five pieces were sold—a definite success in the eyes of O’Connell. He and Cisco don’t go into these shows to make money so any sale is a pleasant surprise, O’Connell said.

The talent level the show drew—outside of the usual low-brow contributors—added to the sale incentive. Along with the tattoo artists and professional illustrators the shows normally include, “It’s Your Funeral” boasted the work of artists who have contributed to Warner Bros., Hustler and Playboy in the past.

“Whatever we do the artists are always saying, ‘What’s next? Please include me,’” O’Connell said. “We always seem to have really low expectations, and they always seem to be exceeded by people enjoying coming and hanging out or those who participate and have a fun time coming and getting reactions to their artwork.”

“It’s Your Funeral” will run through the end of the month at the Tattoo Factory Gallery, 4443 N. Broadway. Enter through the Tattoo Factory, 4441 N. Broadway, open daily from 10 a. m. – 2 a. m. and ask to see the gallery.