Issue 73 | Community Tattoo Artist Guide!
All artists recommended by Asian American women :)
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If you’re already subscribed, thank you for supporting our work to center Asian American women stories and perspectives. This guide is 100% curated by Asian American women — thank you to all who shared their artists and photos :)
Dear Cosmos Community,
Happy Tattoo Season! We’re celebrating with our *first-ever* Community Tattoo Artist Guide!!!
All artists were recommended by Cosmos Community Members :)
The guide covers artists in New York City, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. If you know of artists in other cities, leave us a comment!
I wish I could guarantee you a booking with all the artists in this list, but I am a mere Muggle…
Please enjoy disappearing into a tattoo rabbit hole and emerging with brand new tattoo(s) that your Asian parents will eventually accept!! Welp, mine still don’t know about my bright red shoulder cap tat, but many of you shared stories of, um wow, getting tattoos with your parents, so I am now hopeful! Thank you, and feel free to share this guide with anyone and everyone :)
Karen, Co-Founder of The Cosmos
~~~Community Tattoo Artist Guide~~~
NEW YORK CITY
Evelyn Tatts 肖爱维 | Brooklyn | @evelyn.tatts
Specializes in hand-poked tattoos! I spy the cutest Miyazaki and animal imagery in her portfolio :)
Gentle Oriental | Brooklyn | @gentle.oriental
Flash only tattoos that pay homage to Asian design and culture, which you can check out here. Her books are closed, but that may change soon. Recommended by so many of you!!
Hannah Kang | Vestige Tattoo, Brooklyn | @hnnhtattoo
You’ve likely seen Hannah’s timeless floral work on the Internet; she also does animal and nature realism with an outstanding array of color.
Hot Bird Bath | Brooklyn | @hotbirdbath
Hot takes on traditional cultural totems like Tiger Balm, dragons, phoenixes, goddesses, and more!
Limb Forest and F Segismundo | Yarrow Studio, Brooklyn | @limbforest, @fksegismundo
Both fine line artists! Limb Forest feels like tiny whimsical dreams, and F Segismundo brings dazzling abstract patterns. “the sweetest & most talented people”, as recommended by community member @chiwen_!
Jings Tattoo | Flushing, Queens | @jingstattoo
Jing started tattooing in China in 2017, moved to Korea to develop her style, and now has her own tattoo studio with all women artists. She’d be a great artist for any fine-lined work and tiny words, like community member Carlen T.’s:
JK Kim | Queens | @jk.tat
Beautiful fine line and minimalist tattoos — think tiny florals, a single ladybug, and a phrase or word. Books are open for Nov-Dec!
Novchild.jpg | Yant Studio, Forest Hills, Queens | @novchild.jpg
Bold pops of color and realism — love her latest sparkly bunny in a hanbok :)
Oatmeal Tattoo | Vestige Tattoo, Brooklyn | @ooooatmeal
Ah, the tiniest and cutest tats. The cats! The napa cabbage! The strawberry cheesecake! Books open for Oct-Nov!
Ocean Gao | @baby.phag
Their art is focused on diasporic nostalgia, forms of queer kinship, and creating homes in liminal space. Books closed until 2022!
Sophie Bee (은희) | Small Shop Tattoo, Brooklyn | @sophiebeetattoos
Badass fun is how I would describe Sophie’s designs. Books are open for custom designs and flash!
Soyoon | Daredevil Tattoo, Lower East Side | @soyoontattoo (fine line) and @soyoon666 for traditional American style
My artist :) Soyoon is hilarious and has a really warm and caring presence, and she can do both fine line work and the bold American style tattooing. Also tends to be consistently available!
Studio Montes | Yarrow Studio, Brooklyn | @studiomontes
Specializes in hand-poking and is a resident at Yarrow Studio in Brooklyn until the end of November!
Uno 은우 | @untotattoonyc
One line tattoo art, recommended by Zuri Y., who got this beauty:
Victoria Do | Bang Bang, Lower East Side | @victoriado
Black and white realism, tends to do larger-scale pieces! Elegant and simple — just get a look at this piece community member Teresa M. shared with me:
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Jenny Vo Nguyen | @heytherejenny
PERFECT FOR ANIME TATTOOS!!
LOS ANGELES
Baby Cleaver | @baby.cleaver
Hand-poked tinies! Her LA books are always open :)
Clementine Eyes | Northeast Los Angeles | @clementineeyes
Flash only tiny tattoos, simple and delicate!
Jing | @firstjing
Stunning landscape or animal realism in color. Her books are currently closed, but as you can see from community member Deanna N.’s first tattoo, she is worth waiting for!
Shin | tattooist.shin
Small tattoos in black and white fine line, recommended by Heisue C.
Shyn 공 | @antstattoo_shyn
Exquisite floral work, in black and white and color! Recommended by Amy T., who got this beauty from her:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Anita Darkling | Black Serum | @anitadarkling
Fine line/single-needle tattoos in small/micro, recommended by community member Amanda S.
Electric Pen Jen | San Francisco Picture Tattoo | @electricpenjen
Black and white, tiny to medium sized, so great for a first tattoo!
Ink by Push | Gold Leaf Ink, Tenderloin | @inkbypush
If you’re looking for sleeve work, Ink by Push is your artist. Recommended by community member A MIYAKO M, whose tattoo was a love letter to herself for creating her own tarot card deck!! Um WOW!
Lianna | Oakland | @liannandfleur
Large floral work in black ink. Co-owner of With My Sister which looks like a flower and tattoo shop!! Take me there…
Millie K | UNDERGRND, SF Mission District | @mklx
Millie tattoos at the queer-owned UNDERGRND SF, which takes walk-ins! Books open Jan 2022!
Natasha | Diving Swallow, Oakland / Ohlone Territory | @inkthepainaway
I love how Natasha honors the vulnerability and emotion of getting a tattoo; her hand-poked is both strong and delicate as you can see from her flash below! Recommended by community member Claudia L.
Nupur | @nupokes
hand-poked nature tattoos by Nupur, who’s also an educator and counselor. This one below gives major fall vibes! Also recommended by community member Claudia L!
Sebrina Pham | Oakland | @sebs.tattoos
Her fine-lined Sailor Moon art in color brings major nostalgia vibes!
Hyesu Jung | Oakland | @hyesutattoo
Tattoos in American traditional, Korean folklore, and Japanese inspired style. Bilingual in Korean and English. Books open Feb 2022!
TORONTO
Amelia | @aaaearhart
Hand-poked tattoos, the cutest cats, fruits, and florals! Books currently closed.
Shirley Liang | @shirleyliang.tattoos
Large watercolor florals and birds. These colors are so dreamy and vibrant. Books currently closed!
VANCOUVER
Voyager Studio | @ink.by.kiki
Black and white fine line. Recommended by community member Heather D.
Justine Crawford | Soft Hands Studio, Chinatown | @justinecrawfart
Fine line but bold florals and animals, medium sized! Books open for Dec-Jan!
**
recommending Vu (ig: @aloearms), a queer vietnamese tattoo artist based in Miami!
Also recommend Ilona Fiddy (IG: @nocentokes) in Toronto for "exploration & reclamation of Filipino tattooing traditions, approach & promote handpoke tattoo & Philippine aesthetics from a decolonized perspective"