Nick · @ninktat

In Nick's words

Perception shapes our experience and nature is the best artist there is. This is where I find my inspiration as an artist — my natural experience as a being.

I love to take experiences unique to the individual and shape that into beautiful tattoos people walk with throughout their journey of life.

Taking inspiration directly from peoples' lives while understanding that each person's perspective is unique to them, I seek to help people express themselves through this ancient craft that has helped me to express myself.

Starting my journey as a tattoo artist in 2014, I had no intention of turning this into a career, no intention of even tattooing other people. I simply had the urge to tattoo myself. I sought out the supplies I needed, researched how to do so safely and dove right in, literally. Starting on my thigh, I bit off far more than I was ready for — chewing up the skin on my thigh with a needle, I went far too deep and made many mistakes. Lines that were meant to be thin looked like blotched-out sharpie.

After completing my first tattoo, I limped into an overnight shift at a retail store — where I worked at the time, my first job — unsure if my leg was going to be ok. Laughing with my coworkers about it, I talked for the rest of the night about my spontaneous project, and the desire to improve took hold. I started to fall in love with this craft. I discovered my passion.

A continuation of an intense journey of self discovery, trial and error — to me an epic journey — took place. Friends asked me to tattoo them, technique developed, connections with other artists formed, the ups and downs of life pushed me onto the path that led to me opening Manhattan Tattoos about 5 years after first permanently marking my own leg.

Opening Manhattan Tattoos has been a journey of its own. Swinging the door open in August of 2019, simply to give myself a positive environment, I was unaware of the pandemic soon to hit. The pandemic and response would act as a crash course in business — like most of my life, a trial by fire.

Weathering the storm, the business has successfully turned into an environment that I am proud to have created. With the help of my wife, and many others along the way — artists, clients and friends — it has blossomed. The space is a place myself and other artists are able to focus on what we love: tattooing.

While I can and do tattoo almost anything someone may want, my preferred conceptual focal points stem from my own interests in nature, consciousness, reality and space science. The concept is easy to understand: we are one with the universe. Energy is recycled and reused — the same energy in stars is the energy you use to read this. As the saying goes, "You are made of stars."

Building on this and intertwining my interest in consciousness, perception and reality, coupled with my desire to enhance self expression, I love to incorporate focal points and imagery that directly relates to my client — creating a story, whatever that might be.

Starting with a discussion with my client I can turn their journeys, thoughts, concepts and experiences into visual stories. Sometimes easily understood by others, sometimes with hidden meanings. My projects are tailored to resonate deeply with each individual person who carries one. A personalized tattoo.

Sometimes this means tattooing in my preferred style, other times this means tattooing in my client's preferred style. I remain a versatile artist, to be able to work with whoever as their path crosses my own.

I strive to continue growing as an artist, while helping others to express themselves on this shared journey through life.

Tattooing has given me a lot. It introduced me to my wife, it took me out of childhood homelessness, it has given me purpose. I hope to tattoo people for free one day. Thanks for being here.