Best Tattoo Shops In Pittsburgh

“Top notch work at 412inkd. I cannot say enough good things about Israel and his work. I’m newer to town and needed a slick cover up in difficult spot. Israel took his time getting the placement just right which is huge bc hastiness leads to sloppiness. He made sure I was comfortable, and you can tell he definitely takes pride in his art. I am beaming over my new tattoo. 10/10 will be going back! Clean lines, beautiful work. I’m very happy. Thank you again Israel.“

“I just recently got my first tattoo here and it was amazing! They made me feel welcomed and very safe! All of the artist were extremely nice

Requested style: Something that meant something to me my mothers birthday and a bible verse that we love!“

“Super sick location in Lawrenceville! Followed my girl Ari here and I am so glad this is her new home. Free parking around the area and plenty of places to stop after your tattoo.

Ari does amazing work - I get compliments every day.

If you’re not here you’re missing out!!!“

“Best Tattoo shop I’ve ever been in. Matt (Octeel) is an absolutely amazing artist that I have so much respect for. The whole tattoo he made sure I was comfortable and we had such good conversations. It came out amazing on top of that the shop itself is beautiful. Very very welcoming vibes anybody that has anxiety please know you will be at ease. All the other artists there were very nice. The owner should be very proud of the artists and other employees. I will be back asap. ?

Specialties: You will find someone for any style.

Cleanliness: Very clean very professional“

“The ladies and gentlemen that work at human canvas are very polite and respectful it was a pleasure to get a tattoo there it turned out great and the picture of my wife on my chest looks just like her I love that she is with me everywhere I go MAD MAX you did a great job thank you very much again“

“Me & My friend got matching tattoos today for 50$ each and we can say we are more than satisfied!! Definitely will be back“

“Very cool tattoo studio in Polish Hill. Patt did an amazing job on my Van Gogh skull tattoo. It turned out even better than I expected. I will definitely be heading back here for future tattoos!“

“Rhiannon is the best! She pierced my nose 2 times (first time I let go because of a job) second time I’ve had in for 4 years now. She’s amazing & her jewelry is so cute !!!

Specialties: Piercing! & I love that they give back to the kids & community! Keeps me coming back everytime!

Cleanliness: Shop is one of the cleanest I’ve ever been in!“

“Absolutely LOVE. Very clean shop, quality work, and quality people. Never disappointed!“

“Loved it. Got my nose pierced for the first time. Didn’t even know it happend when the needle went in. Quick and easy. Best experience ???

Requested style: Very easy and efficient

Cleanliness: Very clean inside!!!“

“Came in last minute with my grandma and Danny took such good care of her. Would not have wanted her to get tattooed by anyone else— such a kind and generous man.

In the mean time, I got a piercing from Kensington and they are AMAZING!! They have done many of my piercings and now I can’t go anywhere else.

Would recommend this place over and over again.“

“I had a tattoo done to honor both my parents that passed. Jim did a GREAT job. Very professional and he made me laugh as well..which also made process go smoother. I will definitely be returning back!

Requested style: Infinity

Cleanliness: Very clean/Professional“

“I have been looking for a good female run shop in the area and figured I'd give them a try on their Friday the 13th flash. Loved the shop and the artists.“

“Alan has been my go-to tattoo artist for the past few years, and I can't recommend him highly enough. His skill and creativity are outstanding, making every piece a true work of art. Whether I come in with a detailed idea or just a rough concept, Alan always brings it to life beautifully. He's incredibly easy to talk to, making the entire process comfortable and enjoyable. Alan’s ability to either collaborate on my ideas or come up with his own unique designs shows his versatility and dedication to his craft. Working with Alan has always been a fantastic experience, and his friendly, approachable nature just adds to his excellence as an artist. If you're looking for someone who can deliver top-notch tattoos and provide a great overall experience, Alan is your guy.“

“Best place to go when you need inked, I travel in from Columbus OH, several times a year for my sessions, you won't find better anywhere else. Go see Rick and Shakey“

“This is a comfortable tattoo studio space with friendly artists.
I went specifically to see Ashley Karpa, whom has done work on me before, & I am forever grateful to have found her as a tattoo artist as well as a welcoming person to spend many hours being tattooed by!

Requested style: I go to Ashley Karpa for her fine line & dot work speciality.

Stylist: Ashley Karpa is a phenomenal tattoo artist & a pleasure to work with to create the design I had in mind.“

“This is a long read but let me tell you why I love going to Kindred Spirit!! The first time I went in was a few months ago with my husband, who had urged me to go for a consultation and see the shop for myself. He had just gotten a tattoo with Mik (it was a custom tribute to our dogs' two favorite toys) and was really happy with Mik's work and his experience there, and he talked about how cool the space was and guaranteed that I would love it there, too. He knew that I needed to find a tattoo shop that I could trust and where the general environment was really chill and inviting, and I'd had nothing but bad experiences with all of my past tattoos (and couldn't wait to leave their shops once I was done) so I was reluctant to give anyone else a chance. In my case, I had been searching for a talented artist that was willing and able to do a rework of the atrocity that was covering most of my right arm; I'm talking about the Birth of Venus tattoo that I'd wanted for almost 20 years! When I finally worked up the nerve to get it, it ended up looking more like "birth of a neanderthal"! I've been so embarrassed about it for the past 6 years since getting it done, and that was an awful feeling. I'd had two sessions on it previously (tattoo shops in Austin, where we just moved from), and the artists were both from reputable shops, but they obviously did not have the skill or the artistic knowledge to pull off their own renditions of the classic Botticelli piece. I realized only when it was too late that I had been asking a lot and didn't properly vet their work, and now I needed to find a niche artist who also had art education or who maybe knew how to paint in order to understand what to do differently from here. Miraculously, Mik was that niche tattoo artist that I was looking for! She had studied art formally and also enjoyed painting on her own, and she knew this piece very well from her classes. Not only that, but she was excited and confident to take on the challenge of this rework! She was so validating and kind, and I immediately trusted her and felt safe in her expertise based on just the consultation. Also, this was the coolest and most beautiful tattoo shop that I'd ever seen, and I wouldn't mind spending all day in there! I left a $50 deposit with Mik and made an all-day appointment for a rework session. My first appointment was 6 hours long, and I was welcomed by the whole shop when I got there. I was invited to sit on the plush velvet sofa while every artist there collaborated on ideas for the rework before we began. It was only when I felt really excited and comfortable about the new decisions and colors that Mik started to make the preliminary drawings on my arm. I left that day feeling so good about our progress, and the fun and deep conversations that I had with Mik and the rest of the artists and patrons throughout the day. I couldn't wait to go back! Mik has just the right amount of pressure and I was surprised that I was able to withstand so many hours in the chair. It took 3 sessions and about 13 hours total, but as of yesterday, Venus is complete! People have been stopping me to say how beautiful it is; something that would have never happened before. A rework like this can be truly life changing, and there is no other way I would describe it! Over the past 2 months, I've been to Mik for one other small rework and one touch up on another small tattoo that I had. Every time I go in, I look forward to it and I always leave feeling happy and in good spirits. The owners, Bonnie and Kristin, are so knowledgable and they've done a fantastic job at creating a community of talented artists in a beautiful space. Bonnie's dachshund, Gilbert, is usually there too and he likes to cuddle on the couch with clients or sometimes watch whatever movie is streaming. Worms and Tara are 2 other artists who my husband has gotten work from and I love chatting with them, too. This shop is an incredible "third place" in the community, and “

“I got my first tattoo here. To sum it up, I couldn't have found a more comfortable space to be. They genuinely care for you as a person and do their job efficiently and even give aftercare instructions. My tattoo came out way better than I even expected and had a deep convo with my artist, Justun, for 4 hours. Highly recommend in all areas.“

“Great experience. Took 2 walk-ins with ease. Super friendly staff and very clean. Will definitely be back when in the area! Highly recommend

Cleanliness: Very clean! Clean lobby, bathrooms, and stations.

Stylist: Johnny was awesome!“

“Jason is such a cool guy and stellar tattoo artist! I found him after searching for someone who I could feel confident about their line work and ability to punch in color. I had never been inked and went in terrified. Yep, I found myself hyperventilating but I sat for the process because I knew the finished product would be something worth the pain (I’m a weenie, Jason isn’t heavy handed or anything). Also, to anyone with melanated and darker complexions, I can attest that Jason produces legible and beautifully saturated works. Thank you again, Artisan!“

“Some of my favorite artists around. There is an artist here for every style you might be looking for. They’re all talented in their own styles, respectful and kind humans, as well!“

“Got my first tattoo there a few months back and could not be happier with result! All artist super friendly and helpful. Will recommend to anyone looking for one in future.“

“This place is a hidden gem!!! I have never written a review but this place deserves all the praise. They are extremely affordable and the artist are all extremely talented. My artist was Terrel, he was very friendly and versatile in his work. His lines are sooooo clean and his shading is phenomenal. Please don’t waste your money at other places, because I promise nothing in Pittsburgh tops this place!!!“

“Tim and pegi are great. Took me on short notice. Pegi did great work. Awesome conversation. Comfortable and clean environment. Nothing negative to say. Will definitely be back to see them.“

“John created the ultimate memorial tattoo honoring my late husband -after providing him with a piece of jewelry, photos and an enlightening consultation discussion of what I had envisioned. The end result was beyond my expectations, but more importantly was the respect and reverence paid to me (and late husband) during the 5 hour session. Not only by John, but Daisy and 2 other tattoo artists present at the time. The shop is pristinely clean. Creativity flows freely here. Highest regards to John and his crew of talented artists. Highly recommended“