This is a list of notable tattoo artists.
Name Date Nationality Note American Chicago, Illinois based artist featured on TLC's LA Ink. American Real name is Keith Scott McCurdy.Kari Barba AmericanCurrent owner of tattoo shop in Long Beach, California, that has continuously operated since 1927 American American AmericanBetty Broadbent1909–1983AmericanTattoo artist and most photographed tattooed lady of the 20th century German New York based tattoo artist 1872–1953 British Known as "King of Tattooists". Tattooed royalty and The Great Omi.Scott Campbell AmericanNew York-based tattoo artist Mexican American a.k.a. Mark Machado AmericanArtist at Vincent Castiglia Gallery & Custom Tattoo Mexican Known as "The Vampire Woman" and "The Jaguar Woman". Recognized by Guinness World Records as the most tattooed woman in the world, with 96% of her body covered.August Coleman1884–1973AmericanIn 1918, he opened a tattoo parlor in Norfolk, Virginia, near the navy base there.Ben Corday1875–1938AmericanProlific tattoo flash artistCudjuy PatjidresTaiwanese (Paiwan)Indigenous Taiwanese tattoo artist British Owner of Tattoo UK, UK based tattoo studio chain.Amund Dietzel1891–1974Norwegian AmericanEarly American tattoo artist, "Master of Milwaukee" French Polynesian tattoo artist based in Tahiti, French Polynesia. American Formerly based in New York City, now based in Florida. Featured on TLC's Miami Ink. 1951-2025 American New Jersey-born artist known for his photorealism and large scale portraits.Julia Mage’au Gray Papua New GuineanCredited with revitalising women's traditional tattooing, such as veiqia from Fiji, in countries in Oceania.Jacci Gresham AmericanHer shop, Aart Accent Tattoos & Body Piercing, is Louisiana's oldest continuous tattoo business. American Known for her work in medical tattooing and permanent makeup. 1973 1972–2019 Japanese Florida based tattoo artist, featured on TLC's Miami Ink. American Known as "the godfather of modern tattoo." Hardy trained under Sailor Jerry and Japanese masters, Hardy is a noted proponent of the use of Japanese tattoo designs and techniques in American work. He founded Tattootime. New Zealand One of New Zealand's only female tā moko artists. American a.k.a. Henry Martinez Jr.Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand 1942–2022AmericanCalled "America's Tattoo Godmother" American American Based in New York CityMartin Hildebrandt1825–1890German-AmericanEarly tattoo artist in New York City 1919–2010 GermanHorihide1929–2017JapaneseHoriyasu JapaneseOne of the most respected contemporary tattooists in Japan Japanese American Has been a guest artist on LA Ink several times. Judge on Paramount's Ink Master (2022). 1947–1984 American Israeli Co-star of Miami Ink. Main judge on Ink Master Season 14 AmericanJessie Knight1904–1992BritishFirst prominent female tattoo artist in the UK German Student of Horst Streckenbach, conceptual artist American Mexican a.k.a. Jeronimo Lopez Ramirez American a.k.a. Beverly Bean. Based in Seattle, Washington. New Zealand Based in London. Swedish Sutherland Macdonald1860–1942BritishThe first tattooist in Britain with an identifiable premises open to the public. German- American AmericanTattoo artist based in Grand Junction, CO, featured on Ink Master & Ink Master: Angels. American British British Born Grace Walker American Featured on TLC's Miami Ink. 1852–1908 American Patented the first electric tattoo machine Filipino The oldest Filipino tattooist and Kalinga's last mambabatok. American Chinese Known for her Chinese Art and Calligraphy pieces 1949/1950–1999 Samoan Samoan master tattooist American American British American Known for original and freehand, tattooing as well as painting, illustration and cartooning. Currently owner/operator of Charm City Tattoo, Baltimore, Maryland. 1932–2001 AmericanTom Riley1870–?BritishTattoo artist in the 19th centuryFranklin Paul Rogers1905–1990AmericanDesigned tattoo machines 1954-2025 American Known for his "black and gray" work. Owns/tattoos at Goodtime Charlie’s Tattooland in Anaheim, California. American One of the artists on the first season of LA Ink. 1911–1973 American a.k.a. Norman Keith Collins. Dutch a.k.a. Hanky Panky. The Amsterdam Tattoo Museum showcases his tattoo collection, the largest in the world.Jonathan Shaw AmericanFounded a tattoo shop in New York City in 1976 American Based in San Francisco, California. 1943–2007 British 1909–1993 American a.k.a. Phil Andros and Phil Sparrow;Albert L. Morse, The Tattooists, 1st Edition 1977, , S. 50 tattoo artist and writer from Ohio, later based in California. Horst Streckenbach 1929–2001 German a.k.a. "Tattoo Samy" American Notable for his work on celebrities including Angelina Jolie and Drew Barrymore and his line of porcelain dinnerware with Ink Dish. American Known for his "black and gray" portraits 1931–2019 American California based artist who tattooed Cher, Jane Fonda and Janis Joplin.Lokesh VermaIndianIndia based artist who tattooed Guinness Reshi's successful Guinness World Record attempt for most number of flags to be tattooed on human body. Mexican Featured on TLC series Miami Ink and LA Ink. 1877–1961 American The first known female tattoo artist in the U.S. 1891–1964 German Hamburg based tattooist who professionalised tattooing in Germany. He supposedly was the first one to use an electric tattoo machine in Germany Filipino American Known as "the father of modern tribal tattooing." Zulueta championed all-black tattooing, called "the king of black." Featured on TLC's Tattoo Wars.
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