Are tattoo artists the new chefs?





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Tattooing, like cooking, is both an art and a service.





Is Tattooing Becoming More Like Fine Dining?


Tattooing, like cooking, is both an art and a service. A chef carefully curates a menu based on their expertise, creative vision, and years of experience—just as a tattoo artist develops a portfolio of work that reflects their strengths and artistic direction. Some chefs offer an à la carte experience, where you can choose whatever you’re craving, while others create a prix-fixe menu, offering a selection of dishes that showcase their best work. I see my pre-drawn tattoo designs in a similar way. Each one has been carefully crafted, refined, and designed with intention, allowing me to focus on the themes and styles I’m most passionate about.


Tattoo Shops as Different Dining Experiences


The tattoo industry has naturally evolved into different types of spaces, much like the restaurant world:

Street Shops = Fast-Food Restaurants – These shops are all about accessibility, offering fast, efficient, walk-in-friendly tattoos. The experience tends to be straightforward, with artists ready to take on a wide variety of requests.

Private Studios = More Curated Dining – Some artists, like myself, lean toward a more specialized approach, focusing on custom work or pre-drawn designs in a particular style. The experience is often more intimate and built around the artist’s creative direction.

Boutique Custom Studios = Tasting Menus – Some artists take things a step further, working only within their own curated body of work—similar to how some chefs craft a tasting menu that represents their best and most inspired creations.


Why Artists (and Chefs) Shift Toward a More Curated Approach


There’s a place for all kinds of tattooing, just like there’s a place for all kinds of dining experiences. But as artists spend years honing their craft, many naturally shift toward focusing on the work that excites them the most. It’s not about rejecting smaller tattoos or turning away certain requests—it’s about putting forward the strongest, most intentional work possible. For me, that means offering pre-drawn designs that reflect my best ideas and artistic direction. They can still be adjusted to fit your body and vision, but they start from a place of careful curation—just like a chef’s signature dishes.


The Future of Tattooing: A More Thoughtful Experience?


Tattooing is always evolving, and more artists are embracing a curated approach that balances creativity with the needs of their clients. While walk-in shops will always have their place, there’s also a growing movement toward thoughtfully designed, artist-led tattooing—where clients come to an artist specifically for their vision, not just for convenience. It’s an exciting time in the industry, and I think we’ll continue to see tattooing move in the direction of intention, artistry, and experience—not just service.

As this shift happens, I don’t think we should be shaming tattoo artists for evolving beyond smaller, simpler tattoos. Growth is a natural part of any creative career, and as artists refine their skills and develop their vision, they often gravitate toward more complex, large-scale work. It’s not about rejecting smaller tattoos or turning away certain clients—it’s about artists honing their craft and choosing to focus on the projects that inspire them most.

Just like chefs don’t always stay in fast food or casual dining, tattoo artists may move away from quick walk-ins as they gain experience. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with those types of tattoos—there will always be a demand for them—it just means that artists, like any craftspeople, naturally evolve. And instead of seeing that as a negative, maybe we should be celebrating it as a sign of how far tattooing has come as an art form.