There are over 150,000 tattoo shops globally. The GTG scouts the world's best tattoo artists to help you find one you can trust.

Find the Best Tattoo Artists & Shops Near You

The Global Tattoo Guide is the world's most trusted, expert-vetted directory of tattoo artists and shops. Use our interactive map to find the best tattoo artists near you. Every artist is personally evaluated by professional tattooers for technical mastery, artistic vision, and professionalism, never by an algorithm and never for sale. Created by tattoo artists to elevate the art of tattooing.

Find Artists Near You — View The Map Learn More About The GTG ↓

Or browse by state or style below

0 Artists Worldwide

0 Shops Listed

0 Nominees & Stars

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How We Rate the World's Best Tattoo Artists

Star

When an artist reaches Nominee level, our team goes undercover to vet them in person. Only the best of the best earn a Star.

Nominee

These are the real rockstars. Artists pushing the limits of the artform with real mastery, fundamentals, and vision.

Watch List

Every technically skilled artist doing solid work. Great artists who deserve to be seen.

Applicant

New artists awaiting review by our team. These artists have applied or been submitted and haven't been evaluated yet.

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Find Tattoo Artists by Style

Whether you're looking for a realism tattoo artist, fine line specialist, traditional tattoo artist, or cover-up expert — our curated directory helps you find the best tattoo artists for any style, personally vetted by the GTG team.

Black & Grey

2,115 artists

Realism

2,099 artists

Color

1,613 artists

Portraits

1,560 artists

Animalistic

1,173 artists

Illustrative

740 artists

Botanical / Floral

425 artists

Coverups

369 artists

Surrealism

322 artists

Blackwork

296 artists

Neo Traditional

276 artists

Fine Line

263 artists

Anime / Manga

244 artists

Horror

231 artists

Japanese

184 artists

Microrealism

180 artists

Pop Art

160 artists

Ornamental

139 artists

Lettering

107 artists

Graphic

99 artists

New School

91 artists

Geometric

86 artists

Chicano

85 artists

Fantasy

79 artists

Abstract

70 artists

Traditional

69 artists

Dotwork

57 artists

Watercolor

45 artists

Art Nouveau / Art Deco

38 artists

Tribal

38 artists

Dark Art

37 artists

Cartoon

37 artists

Sticker Style

37 artists

Biomechanical

27 artists

Trash Polka

25 artists

Pet Portraits

11 artists

Minimalist

11 artists

Neo Japanese

10 artists

Painterly

8 artists

Best 3D tattoo artists | Global Tattoo Guide

3D

8 artists

Color Realism

7 artists

Gothic

3 artists

Celtic

1 artist

What Does It Take to Earn a GTG Star?

Extraordinary Tattoos

Artist's work demonstrates a masterful understanding and execution of artistic fundamentals.

Integrity & Kindness

Shop's culture demonstrates honesty, humility, and genuine care toward all clients and colleagues.

Synergistic Collaboration

A true partnership where designs are prepared ahead, stories are told with care, and the final tattoo exceeds what the client or artist could envision on their own.

Professional Ethos

Excellent communication, outstanding overall business practices, and total accountability, all aimed at creating tattoo experiences that enrich the entire industry.

Vetted by tattoo artists, never by an algorithm

Global Tattoo Guide was created by professional tattoo artists Jake and Kelly Bertelsen of EXEX Tattoo. Every artist on the map earns their place through hands-on review by people who do the work, not by a formula that ranks whoever pays or games it best.

That is how a directory of 3,197 artists across 78 countries stays honest. Rankings are never for sale, so the names you find here are ones you can actually trust with a decision that lasts a lifetime.

Built by tattooers

Founded and run by working artists who know great work the moment they see it.

Reviewed by hand

Real people scout, assess, and rank every artist, and starred shops earn an in-person visit.

Never for sale

Placement is earned through review and cannot be bought at any price.

Meet the founders

The artists behind the map

A married pair of professional tattooers who decided the world needed an honest way to find great work. See their tattoos and read their story on their artist pages.

Jake Bertelsen

Co-founder and working tattoo artist

An award-winning artist known for detailed realism and fine black-and-grey, and one of the most sought-after tattooers in Montana. Jake shaped how the map is built and which work earns a place on it.

View Jake's work →

Kelly Bertelsen

Co-founder and working tattoo artist

A professional tattoo artist known for precise, intentional work in color and black-and-grey. Kelly reviews artists the way she approaches the chair, with an eye for the small details that separate good work from great.

View Kelly's work →

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Best Tattoo Artists & Shops by State

The Global Tattoo Guide features the best tattoo artists and top rated tattoo shops across all 50 states. Browse artists and shops in your state, personally vetted by our expert team.

Alabama 5 artists 5 shops

Alaska 2 artists 2 shops

Arizona 33 artists 25 shops

Arkansas 3 artists 3 shops

California 179 artists 115 shops

Colorado 45 artists 28 shops

Connecticut 3 artists 3 shops

Delaware 1 artist 1 shop

D.C. 0 artists 0 shops

Florida 91 artists 84 shops

Georgia 15 artists 14 shops

Hawaii 5 artists 6 shops

Idaho 27 artists 13 shops

Illinois 36 artists 26 shops

Indiana 16 artists 7 shops

Iowa 2 artists 2 shops

Kansas 1 artist 1 shop

Kentucky 3 artists 3 shops

Louisiana 1 artist 1 shop

Maine 5 artists 3 shops

Maryland 13 artists 10 shops

Massachusetts 20 artists 21 shops

Minnesota 6 artists 6 shops

Mississippi 2 artists 1 shop

Missouri 6 artists 6 shops

Montana 15 artists 12 shops

Nebraska 5 artists 5 shops

Nevada 37 artists 25 shops

New Hampshire 8 artists 8 shops

New Jersey 21 artists 11 shops

New Mexico 2 artists 2 shops

New York 91 artists 63 shops

North Carolina 23 artists 22 shops

North Dakota 12 artists 11 shops

Ohio 31 artists 26 shops

Oklahoma 5 artists 7 shops

Oregon 28 artists 24 shops

Pennsylvania 47 artists 38 shops

Rhode Island 5 artists 2 shops

South Carolina 3 artists 3 shops

South Dakota 10 artists 8 shops

Tennessee 10 artists 10 shops

Texas 101 artists 69 shops

Utah 14 artists 12 shops

Vermont 0 artists 0 shops

Virginia 10 artists 8 shops

Washington 61 artists 40 shops

West Virginia 1 artist 1 shop

Wisconsin 11 artists 11 shops

Wyoming 6 artists 6 shops

Find the Best Tattoo Artists & Shops in the World

Explore our interactive map to find the best tattoo artists and shops worldwide.

Explore The Interactive Map

Interactive map of the best tattoo artists and shops worldwide

About the Global Tattoo Guide

Created by professional tattoo artists Jake and Kelly Bertelsen of EXEX Tattoo, the Global Tattoo Guide is the world's first trusted, free platform for discovering the best tattoo artists and planning tattoos with confidence. Built by tattooers, powered by the community, made to elevate the artform.

The GTG started with artists who their peers nominated as the best and most inspiring in the industry, a list of masters that included Jeff Gouge, Adrian Lee, Guy Aitchison, Nikko Hurtado, Shigenori Iwasaki, and Filip Leu. Today, the GTG team scouts daily to build the most comprehensive directory of the world's best tattoo artists, now spanning thousands of artists across dozens of countries.

Our Mission: Elevate the Art of Tattooing

The Global Tattoo Guide is a branch of EXEX Global. EXEX means "Exalt the Extraordinary." We inspire and lift up extraordinary people, enriching their lives and, in turn, life itself. The Global Tattoo Guide isn't just made to showcase elite artists — we're also creating free resources to help any artist in the world, who is willing to work for it, achieve a Star.

Where do you go if you have tattoo related questions, or about how to become a better tattooer? We are working on creating a new community and becoming the most supportive tattoo community in the world. For tattooers, collectors, and anyone who wants to know more.

“For too long, tattooing has been relegated to the fringes of the art world. We're here to help elevate it to the level it rightfully deserves: one of the greatest art forms of all time.” — GTG Team

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people will get a new tattoo today.

The Global Tattoo Guide helps you choose an artist you can trust.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Global Tattoo Guide find the best tattoo artists?

The GTG team, founded by professional tattoo artists, continually scouts and evaluates tattoo artists worldwide. We assess four key criteria: technical mastery of artistic fundamentals, integrity and genuine care for clients, collaborative approach to design, and overall professional standards. Nominee-level artists are vetted in person by our undercover team before they can earn a GTG Star — our highest recognition.

How do I find a good tattoo artist near me?

Use the GTG interactive map at tattoo.guide/map to browse tattoo artists near you, filtered by location, style, and GTG tier. Every artist in our directory has been personally evaluated by our expert team — unlike crowdsourced review sites, our ratings are based on in-person, professional assessment of each artist's work and studio.

What tattoo styles can I search for on the Global Tattoo Guide?

You can browse artists specializing in realism, fine line, traditional, black and grey, portraits, cover-ups, anime, watercolor, Japanese, neo-traditional, and more. Use our style filter to find artists who specialize in the exact style you're looking for.

Is the Global Tattoo Guide free to use?

Yes. The Global Tattoo Guide is completely free for tattoo collectors and enthusiasts. Our mission is to elevate the tattoo industry by helping clients find artists they can trust, and helping artists grow their craft and recognition.

How can I recommend a tattoo artist to be listed?

You can submit an artist through our Artist Applicant Form. Tell us about the artist's work, location, and what makes them exceptional. Our team reviews every submission and evaluates artists for potential inclusion in the GTG directory.