The best artists push boundaries and overcome challenges; these five are no exception. Discover how these Black tattoo artists are transforming art on Black and brown skin—bringing innovation, representation, and excellence to the craft.
“Keep going, grow. Be willing to learn. Be willing to listen and push and go through with it.”
Artist @da24ink labels his art as “a mixture of fine line and abstract realism, micro realism.” But Daniel prefers to live outside the boundaries of traditional realism. “I’m very diverse in what I do,” he says, “and that’s why I do it.”
In the span of four years Daniel has been tattooing, he credits his dedication to his willingness to learn new things and his acceptance of making mistakes. His advice? “[Everything] comes with patience. You’re going to mess up, you’re going to have hiccups, and it’s all about just bouncing back and learning from your mistakes.”
“I do try my best to enter mainly black spaces or spaces that pride themselves on [inclusivity]”
For @naiwiththeneedle, redefining greatness means encouraging artists to hone their craft on various skin tones, rather than just one. “I would really enjoy seeing more seminars and classes for people who are entering the tattoo industry that include different skin tones. That way [when] people are learning a method and different ways to tattoo or how somebody does a technique in tattooing, they can see [the] different approaches for the different skin tones, rather than having to learn it on white skin first and then having to learn it on black and brown skin.”
Naomi’s soft-fine line realism artistry was nurtured in the black spaces of the tattoo industry, which she’s thankful for. “The industry [has included] a lot more black tattoo artists who’ve created spaces for us to know, connect with each other and share information and build relationships. So that’s pretty awesome that I’m able to have those great experiences due to that.”
“The number one myth I want to debunk about tattooing black skin is that all skin can have amazing detail. No matter if you’re fair skin, brown skin, or dark skin,”
Afrocentric surrealist artist @ej.tattz places strategy and education at the heart of his craft. EJ specializes in black, white, and grayscale tones. His calculated linework and intricate detailing allows EJ to break the stigma around tattooing darker skin. How does he create stunning tattoos? Tactical manipulation of stencil art. “The only thing you have to do is just switch up the composition,” he says. “If you’re [brown skin], just heighten up the contrast and make the actual piece larger.”
EJ is drawn to spaces that nurture artists of color. He aspires to be part of the wave of innovators pushing the Black tattoo industry forward.
“[It’s very] important to me when black women tell me how much they appreciate seeing themselves in my art. I think it’s only natural for people to put themselves into their art.”
Artist @mahaganyshawtattoos has made herself a force in the industry. She’s accomplished this by unlearning Black tattooing stereotypes and forging her own path. After eight years in the game, Mahagany Shaw has debunked the belief that traditional-style tattoos only work for fair-skinned people.
Mahagany credits her strong understanding of color theory, design, and tattoo placement to creating vibrant tattoos that last the test of time.
“I feel like the style of traditional, the heavy, bold lines really lends itself well to aging on darker skin. The heavy contrast using the rule of third. So 1/3 open skin, a third black and then a third with color really looks nice over time.”
As a bubblegum-traditional artist, Mahagany expresses her deep connection with her blackness through her unique style of pinup art. “I feel like when I did see imagery of Black women in tattooing, it was offensive or it was over-sexualized. My pinups, I would like to think, are through the female gaze as opposed to the male gaze. And that’s very important to me.”
“A lot of us aren’t taught how to tattoo darker skin or what is required when you’re tattooing a darker-skinned client.”
Black and gray realism artist @estepinks is a self-taught groundbreaker. However, her biggest concern is the misconceptions of ink on black and brown skin and how to tattoo them. “[If] anything needs to change within the industry, I would say there needs to be a shift in the overall educational [system]”
Tattooing darker skin tones comes easy to Taylor. In the nearly four years she’s been in the industry, she’s found her stride. “Tattooing darker skin can require a softer and more delicate hand,” she states. “And if anything, would be less demanding because you’re using less ink; [the goal] is to allow more of this client’s skin to show, which leaves the tattoo more readable and makes it pop a lot more on darker skin clients.”
Keep Moving Forward
The moral of the story? Diversity is power. The tattoo industry thrives when artists of all cultures and skin tones bring their unique perspectives and skills together. Let the journeys of these five Black tattoo artists inspire you. Inspire you to challenge yourself with different skin tones, textures, and techniques. Step outside your comfort zone, embrace the artistry, and don’t be afraid to try something new! Explore last year’s Black History Month feature to see more Black tattoo artists and how they redefine greatness.
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