6 Best Tattoo Artists in NYC

Tattoos are no longer stigmatized like they used to be. Almost 40 percent of millennials are tatted up, it seems like there's a new celebrity tat in the tabloids every day, and tattoo trends proliferate via Instagram.

Because of their general acceptance, we’re recognizing tattoos as an art form more than ever, rather than simply expressions of teenage rebellion, aggression, or shortsightedness. Accordingly, we're perceiving tattoo artists for what they truly are: artists, with each importing their own style into the ink they work with.

We spoke to some of the most well-known and beloved tattoo artists in New York City—a huge tattoo hub—about the meanings and inspirations behind their designs. Read ahead for the best tattoo artists in NYC.

If you haven't heard of Keith McCurdy, also known as “Bang Bang,” you've probably seen his work on some celebrity or another. He's the artist behind the “Shhh...” on Rihanna's finger, the “love yer brain” on Miley Cyrus' arm, and many more famous tats.

Perhaps the most striking property of McCurdy’s work is its realism. Flowers, animals, and other figures pop off his clients' skin, so it wasn't surprising to learn that he finds inspiration from photographs. Sometimes people bring photos to his studio, although the final product usually comes out different.

"If it looks impossible to tattoo, I probably want to do it," he said, recalling a recent arm he covered in New York City architecture. Other favorite tattoos he’s given include Rihanna's gun and Cara Delevingne's lion. He's also tattooed—and been tattooed by—Kylie Jenner. "She was actually really good. I was surprised," he said. His leg now sports Kylie's signature “K” with a crown to represent her nickname (King Kylie).

Jon Boy, whose work has also appeared on celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Zayn Malik, is known for his intricate miniature designs. "I first started doing tiny tattoos because I found that there was this niche of people that were being turned away by other artists for these delicate designs," he said. "Having a huge interest in the fashion world, I love that these timeless tattoos are worn as understated accessories."

Another element of his artwork that stands out is its religious themes. In fact, he's the dude behind the cross below Justin Bieber's eye. They go to the same church, Hillsong New York City, and prayed before Jon Boy inked Bieber. "It was an amazing moment connecting with him over our shared faith," he recalled.

Jon Boy also received a tattoo of his own from Kylie Jenner and her friends Justine Skye and Jordyn Woods. Like Bang Bang, he got the King Kylie symbol. "Kylie is hilarious," he said. "We had an awesome time that night."

Sue Jeiven, also known as "Sweet Sue," is so committed to making every tattoo unique that she throws away all her sketches after creating the designs. She’s never tatted the same thing twice, and everything—down to the single flower pedal—is customized based on her clients' personalities.

From mermaids to ships in bottles, Sue’s work explores nautical and fantastical themes. One of her favorite tattoos is an elaborate seascape she gave to a man who, after receiving the tat, quit his job in a research lab and moved to Spain to learn how to command ships.

People inked by Sue are often in the process of undergoing major life transitions, but according to her, are not fully aware of it yet. "They just can't explain it in words, so it's almost an obsession to them," she said. "They have to get the tattoo because it's a physical image of something about themselves that they can't explain, and it's really cool to make that happen."

Rather than sporting traditionally pretty designs like hearts and flowers, Tamara Santibanez's clients are more likely to have insects and reptiles crawling over their skin, or chains and ropes wrapped around it. Santibanez finds much of her inspiration from the BDSM community. "I wanted to make tattoos that people involved in subculture, myself included, could wear and feel accurately and tastefully represented," she said.

Born and raised in Georgia, Santibanez displays her Mexican heritage with tattoos of various Chicano arte motifs. She also collects Lowrider and Teen Angels magazines, as well as fetish catalogs, for inspiration.

Campbell, known for his thin, monochromatic, and extremely intricate designs—worn by the likes of Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom—embraces the tattoo's reputation as an act of rebellion. From skulls to Grim Reapers, he's all about conveying his clients' dark and defiant sides.

"My personal relationship with skulls goes back to when I was first carving them into my desk in middle school or scribbling them on the back of my textbooks," he said. "I grew up in a kind of conservative religious environment, and skulls became the symbol of me pushing back against my surroundings and establishing myself as an individual (as every kid going through puberty is trying to do). It started as a childhood rebellion and has been a reminder to stick to my guns."

Campbell also has some advice for people looking to get tattoos. "Keep it fun. Don't overthink it," he suggested. "So many times, you get people coming into the shop wanting their first tattoo, and they feel like they have to summarize their entire identity in one little symbol or one little thing. At the end of the day, the best tattoos are the ones that are just sincere and spontaneous and fun."

Becca Genné-Bacon tattoos in bold lines and bright red, yellow, green, and blue jewel tones that look like they’re from a crayon box. Accordingly, the designs resemble pages of a coloring book, but are far more complex and intricate.

Genné-Bacon takes her inspiration from early-to-mid 1900s tattoos. Her favorite and most distinctive tattoos depict women's heads. "I love them because they are so classic-looking and never go out of style. You can have so much variation with the same subject matter, so I never get bored of drawing them."

Flowers and birds are also frequent objects of her design. She even dabbles in southwestern themes, portraying cowgirls and cactuses. What distinguish her tattoos are the four basic colors and thick, black outlines.