Which Tattoo Artists You Should Go To, By City
Picking out a tattoo artist is a lot like picking out a significant other — there are a lot of factors that go into figuring out who the right person is for you. Not only do you have to think about the basic logistics — How much does it cost? How far away is it? Is the place clean, and more importantly, is it safe? — but you also have to find an artist whose style fits with what your aesthetic, and who's willing to work together to give you exactly what you want. It needs to be someone who you feel comfortable with (this is YOUR body, after all) and who you know isn't going to misspell your inspirational quote.
Filtering through reviews online can be an overwhelming process, so to make things easier, we've tracked down some of the most legit artists across the country. Now you can spend your pre-tattoo free time putting together an ink inspiration board on Pinterest, instead (and if you're looking for a place to start, check out our roundup of rad tattoo ideas).
Allegory, AK
Allegory Tattoo's website calls the shop, "Florence, AL's best kept secret," and that's largely because of Eva Jean, who owns the shop with her husband, artist Ulyss Blair. Eva has been in the tattoo game for almost 15 years, and works primarily in custom designs.
Little Rock, AK
Little Rock-based artist Katie McGowan has a style that is totally her own — think, bright colors, psychedelic patterns and the occasional celebrity portrait (a la RuPaul). Black Cobra, the studio where she's works, is well known throughout the state of Alabama, and full of artists with their own unique styles, from black ink work to Neotraditional to realism.
Los Angeles, CA
Shamrock Social Club on Hollywood's Sunset Strip has been a legendary destination in LA's tattoo scene, and clients have included Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and the entire Pretty Little Liars squad. Owner Mark Mahoney is the studio's premier artist, but there's an entire team with a range of artistic styles and histories to help you get whatever design you're looking for. In addition to its celebrity clientele, the studio is known for its realistic detail work — think: Brooklyn and David Beckham's matching tats, care of Mark Mahoney himself.
Hollywood, CA
It's impossible to make a list of the "best tattoo artists in America" without including Dr. Woo. A former artist at Shamrock Social Club, Dr. Woo branched out to start his own studio at the Roosevelt Hotel, which is so hidden it doesn't even have a public phone line. The mysterious artist, who boasts over a million Instagram followers, is best known for his single needle designs, examples of which can be seen via Miley Cyrus' puppy ink and Brooklyn Beckham's camera tat.
San Francisco, CA
Black and Blue has been a SF establishment since 1995, and is known for its kind artists and gender inclusivity. The shop is female-owned, and houses 10 artists with a variety of different styles and areas of expertise: Idexa, for example, draws all of her detailed designs directly on her customers' skin; Lianna's main focus is botanical styles; and Kasha's work is inspired by street art from her travels around the world.
Denver, CO
Nicole Eveland takes floral tattoos to a whole new level. One of the many talented artists at [Denver's Tribe Tattoo] (http://www.tribetattoo.com/), she draws inspiration from Colorado's abundant natural world. Her work appears in black and white and in color, and her Instagram feed is filled with gorgeous flowers of both the real and ink varieties.
Miami, FL
You may recognize Katherine "Tatu Baby" Flores from Spike TV's Ink Master." In addition to appearing on two seasons of the tattoo competition show, she's won countless awards for her work, and is a co-owner of Miami's Till The End Tattoos. The studio has a range of artists who specialize in custom designs, black-and-gray work and realism, so even if you can't get Tatu Baby herself (she's definitely in high demand), you're pretty much guaranteed to find someone else you're into.
Atlanta, GA
Brandon Bond, owner of "All or Nothing tattoo shop" in Atlanta, is known for his style of performing "Ala Prima" tattoos, which are drawn directly onto the skin all at once. He's tatted the likes of Nas and Kelis, and has earned himself a massive industry following. His studio is the most published and award winning tattoo parlor in history (#casual), and full of amazing artists who work alongside Brandon.
Honolulu, HI
Sean McCready's work is inspired by the images he sees in his every day life in Honolulu, so expect to find lots of florals, bright colors, and ocean scenes in his designs. He is also known for his portrait work, and can somehow make even a fluorescent Frankenstein look realistic.
Chicago, IL
Carolyn Elaine is the only "Lady Tattooer" at Chicago's MayDay Tattoo Co., and her work utilizes black lines as well as brightly colored watercolors. Her studio is appointment-only, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to get into Carolyn's books.
Boston, MA
Cambridge's Pino Bro's Ink is consistently rated one of the best studios in Boston thanks to artists like Gonzalo Chavez, George Motta and Dave Norton. They work with tattoo enthusiasts and newcomers alike, so will be able to help guide you through the process if its your first time going under the needle.
Detroit, MI
Geary Morill's tattoos are unlike anything you've ever seen anywhere before. He doesn't shy away from color, and often infuses bright shades and geometric patterns into recreations of famous faces (like the amazing Amy Poehler portrait, pictured above). He was also featured on Ink Masters, and has over 18 years of experience in the biz.
Hendersonville, NC
If you want a gorgeous, detailed flower etching, Kerry Burke is your go-to artist. As the owner of Heart of Gold Tattoos in North Carolina, the artist's black ink, vintage botanical drawings have made her so popular that her books are currently closed to appointments. Follow her on Instagram, though, for news on when things will be opening up.
Las Vegas, NV
Revolt Tattoos is a Las Vegas institution, and was started by two former contestants on Ink Master. If you're looking for something colorful and realistic, like the floral sleeve pictured above. the shop's owner Joey "Hollywood" Hamilton is your guy. Co-owner Walter Frank and Revolt's other seven artists offer artwork in a range of styles, from neo-traditional to geometric to minimalist.
Brooklyn, NY
Scott Campbell of Brooklyn's Saved Tattoos is arguably one of the most well-known tattoo artists in the country, and has inked big names like Marc Jacobs, Heath Ledger, and Penelope Cruz in his signature, minimalist style. The line and dot design, pictured above, is a prime example of the intricate black ink tattoos that fill the artist's Instagram feed... and cover the limbs of some of the most A-List stars on the planet.
Manhattan, NY
Jonathan Valena, AKA, JonBoy, is the man behind a lot of the minimalist ink dotting your favorite celebs' Instagram feeds. He's responsible for Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin's matching broken hearts tattoos (and Justin Bieber's face tat), and some of his other famous clients include Zayn Malik, Kylie Jenner, and Sofia Richie. His studio, West 4 Tattoo, is located in Manhattan's West Village. The artist is nearly impossible to get an appointment with, but very once in a while, he'll do a "Walk in Day" that doesn't require an appointment, so keep an eye on his Instagram for more info. If you can't get JonBoy himself, the West 4 team is chock full of talented artists like Wicky Nicky, MJ and Chang.
Portland, OR
Pony Reinhardt's tattoos mix modern and vintage styles — inspired by nature-themed woodcarvings — to create some seriously interesting ink. Her art has been featured in the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art, and her studio, Tenderfoot Studio, draws custom designs for every client that are completely different than anything you might be able to get elsewhere. Plus, all of their ink is totally vegan. Tenderfoot also invites guest artists from other studios across the country to do guest residencies, offering a rotating range of design options.
Philadelphia, PA
Gia Rose, another Ink Master alum and internationally acclaimed artist, is opening her own studio in Philadelphia called "White Oak Tattoo." Gia is a cervical cancer survivor, and every January, she donates proceeds from her work to benefit someone struggling with the disease in honor of cervical cancer awareness month.
Nashville, TN
Kustom Thrills touts itself as one of best parlors in Nashville, and is home to famed artist Jonny Lashley. His designs are bright, bold and ornate, and a Johnny Lashley Tattoo is identifiable from miles away. He's also on pretty much every list of "Tattoo Artists to Follow on Instagram," so you may as well give him a double tap. The bird tattoo, pictured above, is an example of a design that combines the artist's love for outer space with his surrealist style.
Austin, TX
If you're looking for a black ink tattoo in Texas, Annie Mess is the artist for you. She's a painter, sculptor, and artist who works with clients to create tattoos using an exclusively monochromatic palette. Her appointment offerings are few and far between (she's that popular), but she often hosts walk-in days, so look out for those on her Instagram page. If you're looking for something in color, one of the other six artists at Austin's Golden Age Tattoos will be able to help you create something special.
Salt Lake City, UT
Every artist at Salt Lake City's Yellow Rose Tattoo has rave reviews online, but Ashley Rose is the one to watch. Her aesthetic is heavily influenced by nature and traditional folk imagery (as you can see in the image above), and her Instagram feed is filled with a combo of black ink designs and bright, colorful styles. She's also the founder of "Still Not Asking For It," an organization working to further the conversation around sexual assault. She's worked all over the country since she started professionally inking in 2003.
Photos Courtesy of Instagram/@freeorgy, @allegoryarts, @brooklynbeckham.
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