In an Uptown neighborhood storefront window, across from a Target under construction and surrounded by empty buildings, a life-size figure of Elvis Presley stares out onto the street, inviting curious looks from passers-by. The figure is paired with the world’s largest velvet Elvis painting hung on the opposite wall. Painted toilet seats surround them both. This is the Tattoo Factory Gallery, 4443 N. Broadway, and while the Elvises are staples, the toilet seats are part of the gallery’s newest exhibit, “Paintings for You to Poop On.”

Attached to the Tattoo Factory, the gallery opened one and half years ago when tattooist Beth Cisco wanted somewhere to unveil her velvet Elvis painting and Tattoo Factory owner Paul Collurafici had an empty room he didn’t know what to do with.After teaming up with artist Mitchell O’Connell, the pair opened the space as an alternative gallery to showcase fun, silly art.

“I know there are lots of galleries in Chicago and lots of opportunities to display,” O’Connell said. “We just try to have a hook so it’s not just so-and-so sticks their art on the wall. It’s ‘here’s our hook, here’s our cool theme.’”

When O’Connell invited artist Rod North to participate, it was a difficult concept for North to understand.

“It took some time to figure out what I would paint on a toilet seat,” North said. He finally decided to do a pin-up painting of cult icon Tura Satana on a pink and purple leopard background. “I put my heart and soul into it, and it turned out gorgeous. I had a lot of fun doing it.”

The exhibit, which opened March 26, features work by 25 different artists with pieces ranging from a bedazzled Ed Hardy-inspired seat to crafty seats made by O’Connell’s own children. The opening event hosted nearly 400 people throughout the night. Every piece hanging is for sale, but most of it is not for the gallery’s profit. Only 20 percent of the money is taken by Cisco and O’Connell—and every last bit goes right back into money spent on food for the opening, mailing out flyers and other promotional expenses.

Aron Gagliardo, who contributed an Elvis toilet seat reflecting Cisco’s painting, said he loves the idea of people coming in to get tattoos and being exposed to artwork, and vice versa. For him it’s about putting out interesting work, not just selling pieces.

“I’d be happy to install it in my bathroom once the show’s over,” Gagliardo said.

The physical and personal attachment of the gallery to the Tattoo Factory has helped the exhibit thrive. Work by the tattoo artists exposes the true talents of contributors.

“The artists that I have at the Tattoo Factory are not just tattoo artists, they are artists that make their living doing tattoos,” Collurafici said. “I can never scream that from the rooftops loud enough.”

The gallery and artists alike want to avoid association with galleries that hold “snooty” art openings with wine and cheese. Instead, they want to create an art happening, a citywide event.

Once the toilet seats are down, the next exhibit will be themed around luchadores (Mexican wrestlers) and there is speculation that the Congress Theater will get involved and host live wrestling.

“Our highest aspiration is to not get too drunk at the openings,” O’Connell said. “I don’t aspire to make money at this; I only aspire to have a good time doing it.”

To view the exhibit, visit the Tattoo Factory at 4443 N. Broadway and ask to be let in next door. All toilet seats are for sale and are fully functional.

bwellen@chroniclemail.com