Tattoos have been a part of tradition among different tribes of the world since 12000 BC. However, in the last 100 years, tattoos have evolved from being a tradition to becoming a fashion. Although many people still treat tattoos as a tradition and part of their rituals, more and more people have started to get themselves inked. These tattoos depict different things based on their design.
As people set up their mind to get a tattoo, they look for the best tattoo artist in their town. After all, that ink is going to stay forever! For your convenience, we have compiled a list of 10 best tattoo artists in the US. If you are looking for a professional tattoo artist near you to get inked, take a look here first.
1. Don Ed Hardy
Ed Hardy is one of the top tattoo artists from the United States. Raised in Southern California, Hardy established Hardy Marks Publications. However, Hardy has now retired from tattooing and currently serves as a mentor at Tattoo City, his studio in San Francisco.
2. Kat Von D
Kat Von D is an American tattoo artist who gained fame after her appearance in the TLC reality show; LA Ink. Kat Von D is also a musician, model, and an entrepreneur. She also appeared in Miami Ink and also wrote a number of books on tattoos including “High Voltage Tattoo” and “The Tattoo Chronicles”.
3. Paul Booth
Paul Booth is a self-taught tattoo artist in New York City. Paul Booth is famous for his utilization of black and grey ink tattoo work portraying dim surrealism styled pieces. Booth currently works at his own tattoo studio: Last Rites Tattoo in New York City which was first established in 1998 by Booth himself.
4. Scott Campbell
Scott Campbell is a famous tattoo artist from New York. Campbell has a number of famous clients including Courtney Love, Robert Downey, Jr. Marc Jacobs and Howard Stern. Campbell currently owns and works at the Saved Tattoo studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
5. Ami James
Born in 1972, Ami James started his tattooing career in 1992. James quickly became famous in his field. Right now, James own a number of tattoo studios in the world including the famous Love Hate Tattoos and Miami Ink.
6. Chris Garver
Born on September 11, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chris Garver specializes in Japanese and black and grey tattoos. In his twenties, Garver started full-time tattooing in New York City and became one of the well-known tattoo artists in the US. Garver currently works at Invisible NYC.
7. Bob Tyrrell
Born on 4th November, 1962 in Detroit, United States. Bob Tyrrell started tattooing at the age of 34 and has been featured in London Ink and LA Ink. He has done a number of portraits in black and gray ink. Bob Tyrrell participated in the 2012 World Wide Tattoo Conference and has continued his career ever since.
8. Guy Aitchison
Guy Aitchison was born in 1968 in Michigan, United States. Apart from being a tattoo artist, he is also a painter. Aitchison started tattooing in 1988. At the age of 21, he gave Rob Zombie his first tattoo. Aitchison currently works as a tattoo artist along with his wife at Hyper Space Studio in Chicago.
9. Mark Mahoney
Mark Mahoney has been featured in the Skin and Ink Magazine and is one of the top tattoo artists in the US. Born in Massachusetts, Mark is known for his eye-catching black and grey tattoo art. He was the founder of the black and grey art. A number of the world’s leading actors and singers have been clients to Mark including Steve Jones, Lana Del Rey, and many others. He is currently an artist in his own shop at the Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood.
10. Nikko Hurtado
Nikko Hurtado, originally from San Fernando Valley, California was born in 1981. He is well known for his colored portrait tattoos. Hurtado started his tattooing career in 2002 and has been featured on Ink Master and LA Ink. Hurtado is currently a tattoo artist at his own tattoo shop in Los Angeles, California on Melrose Avenue.