I’m happy you’re here! I would like to get a little personal and share some of insight about myself, my journey and experiences throughout my life thus far. My favorite way to build connection with my community is through authenticity and vulnerability- my thought process being if I am able to show up safe and as is, so are you. Welcome <3

I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, so if we’re talking present time you can say I have been here about 24 years. I am a daughter, a sister, and an ever evolving, multi-dimensional artist. Growing up my childhood was a little unconventional - full of chaos and beauty. Both of my parents were pretty young when I was born. My dad was incarcerated a lot of my life, and I was raised by a bad-ass single mom named January who is my anchor and best friend. We lived in a cozy corner home which I loved, with my mom-mom ling only five doors down. My mom was a bartender, and I grew independent quick. I was home alone a lot, but I was active- A cheerleader for 10 years and lacrosse for fun. I did well in school until I was kicked off of the team for posting a photo of me smoking. That’s when I started doing hood rat shit with my friends.

Age 15 hit hard for me - my dad had come home from prison for the first time. Things were good… until he relapsed. Anyone who has struggled with addiction, or knows someone who has knows the turmoil that brings.

My moms mental health declined during that time, as well as mine. It was hard to keep reins on everything, and eventually ended up “moving in” with my high school boyfriend until I graduated.

I struggled with depression, suicidal thoughts, and bipolar symptoms but I always had art and an amazing friend group who inspired me. I escaped through drawing, writing, and nature, and roaming the city. One of my favorite places to go as a teen is Baltimore’s Graffiti Alley, which full circle I now have an art studio in. Plus the street name is North Ave. so I think it’s aligned.

Let me be clear: this isn’t a “drag my dad” moment. He struggled with addiction, but also is one of the most talented artists I know. He taught himself how to draw and tattoo behind bars. Watching him mix pigments and build machines lit a fire in me. I remember the first time he showed me how to “lay a stencil” and he used a deodorant stick and honesty that’s the most OG sh*t i’ve seen lol. That was our bond - the hum of the needle, asking questions, and learning together.

Fast forward - all of my friends are applying to colleges, dorm shopping, and chasing me down asking why I haven’t been to class in weeks.

After one college art class, I knew I needed something raw, like real life sh*t, fuck the system.

By junior year skipping school was my specialty. We’d skip school and spend the day urbexing through abandoned buildings, spraying graffiti, and smoking weed on the backroads. By night throwing house parties, and tattin’ asscheeks with an amazon machine at the dining table with no gloves on while moms at work. Just make sure the evidence is gone, and everyone is out by 1:30 sharp.

My attendance dropped, and my mom and I fought a lot because of it, I almost didn’t graduate.

When I was 16 some friends and I skipped school to get snowballs. We were all talking about what we wanted to do after graduation and I had no clue. My partner Ryan said “what about tattooing? you love doing that with your dad and you draw non-stop.” and then it clicked. I am his daughter and I understood the rebellion. I was terrible with authority, I hated school and the idea of some stale ass systematic life.

In that moment, I knew tattooing was my path. There was no Plan -B. I had to get serious and started putting action to alignment.

I couldn’t go to jail and learn how to tattoo though - I mean I could but that would de-rail my timeline. My peers had doubts about my career choice. I made it my goal that by the time my classmates were getting degrees, I was getting tattoo money - debt free.

Being 16 with no tattoos, and no idea where to start, I went to the neighborhood artist with my friend Jerry, in hopes of sparking some conversations and maybe a little guidance. Google told me to develop a relationship with your artist and no other artist would tattoo me because I was a minor…duh. To say the least, Marty texted me to bring paper towels and a trash bag prior to arrival. I didn’t know this wasn’t protocol. Selena Gomez and I have matching tattoos now. All this to say, unfortunately Marty’s kitchen studio wasn’t the best place to be digging’ for information.

I started going to school again. Only to hang out with the art teachers and ask them questions about ya know, how to be like a professional artist?

Mr. Mcgrath, my photographer teacher at Dundalk High School, was the first person teach me how to shoot on a film camera and introduced me to American Traditional Tattoos. He gave me my first real set of drawing pencils too. That kind of felt like an initiation.

My mom got pregnant my senior year of high school, my brother was born February 14th, 2019 and we moved out of my childhood home that same year. I was not a fan of my brothers father it put a strain on our relationship. I eventually moved into a townhome in North Point Village, Dundalk. I lived here with my boyfriend and some homies at the time.

After graduating, I landed a short lived apprenticeship a local artist named Mike Kenney at LoveBelly Tattoo, which happened to be in walking distance from our new spot. He had been tattooing my uncle for years and vouched for me. Mike ran a private studio and had apprenticed under Gypsy John, a very old-school traditional tattooer.

He introduced me to the folks at Gypsys Tattoo of Essex, Maryland. This is where I got my first street shop experience. Gypsy Johns daughter owns the shop, She’s a bad-ass lady tatter that goes by Dagger Dawn. The shop was old school, and the coolest shop I had seen. I sat in occasionally absorbing the ambiance and flow of a shop with multiple artist. I watched client interaction, how to hustle the phone, and clean tubes. That’s where I learned the soul of tattooing - how to rebuild machines, stretch skin, and scrub toilets. I even did my first skin tattoo in him. It was an 18 with a dynamite stick, because they always called me Kid Dynamite. Apparently I was going to blow up the industry.

At the same time, I was working as hostess at a restaurant in Fells Point, Baltimore and a Hooters Girl in the Inner Harbor. I’d spend my entire shifts drawing, trying to build what I thought was a solid portfolio. I was about 18 or 19 then, and honestly, I was pretty stubborn. I ended up messing up my apprenticeship with Mike - mostly because a stupid boy and not showing up the way I should have. I got distracted doing door rat shit and decided to moved into a senior trailer park in Stewartstown Pennsylvania to get away from the chaos and gain a little bit of independence.

For a couple summers I worked at a dock bat called The Crazy Tuna in Middle River, Maryland. It was an hour away, but the money was good and the gig was fun. I kept drawing, grinding, and trying to stay tapped in. Eventually I made it back to the city, still hungry to learn.

I started walking into shops again trying to land another apprenticeship. There was one shop I kept calling and checking in with, the owner looked at my portfolio gave me some critiques and told me keep drawing and come back in 8 months. So I did.

About a year and half after my first apprenticeship ended, I finally go an offer at Layer 3 Collective - the day before my 20th birthday. Funny enough my car got stolen and I got robbed that same night at my birthday party. The next day was met first dat=y at the shop (which also happened to be their grand opening) Not a great look - I had to explain that my car got stolen by my brother’s dad as my first impression. But that was my real start.

I started at Layer 3 Collective right after COVID. We were wearing masks and it all just felt really odd- but I was just excited to be in the shop. I apprenticed under my mentor Chis Dom, a black and grey realism artist for a year and a half until I graduated my apprenticeship.

At the time I had a serving job at the time and an apartment in Havre De Grace, Maryland. I would work doubles - mornings at the restaurant and then straight to the shop ‘til close, then come home - and draw all night.

I made just what I needed in order to pay bills and get cat food. I just said screw it one day, quit my job and went full time at the shop. That’s when I graduated and started taking tattoo appointments.

The buzz was crazy and it felt insane to be doing what I had always wanted for so long. I making money and learning nonstop. When I first started tattooing, I didn’t really have a niche style. Our shop was based in a college town - Towson, Maryland - So I took on everything in order to figure out resonated with me most.

Still something was missing, I wasn’t Feeling fully fulfilled in my career, and wanted to learn more. So I started getting tattooed agin.

My first tattoo getting back in the game was from an artist named Matt Taylor, Owner of Chapterhouse Tattoo in Baltimore. I first came to Matt on my 22nd birthday and got a panther head with a dagger going through it. This was my first colored traditional piece, and I had never seen something like it.

I loved the it and I wanted to tattoo just like like that.

I didn’t even care if I worked there - I just wanted to be in the presence of that shop, It felt like home. I started coming to Matt as much as I could, asking questions and absorbing this new level of tattooing.

I told Matt I was thinking of taking a hiatus from tattooing. The industry had left me feeling burnt out and uninspired. Not long after, Matt offered me a spot at Chapterhouse - and everything started to shift. I came back to tattooing with a purpose. I was eager to expand, hungry to learn and grateful to be surrounded by such talented artists.

Working at Chapterhouse has allowed to evolve not only as an artist but an individual. My inspirations have shifted and deepened - from prison tattoos my dad used to draw, to bold American Traditional, to and ornamental concepts from fences, architecture, and tribal tattoos. I have started pulling from everything around me, and it’s changed how I approach the craft.

I am drawn to the roots of tattooing - when it was ritual not trend. In tribes around the world the act of tattooing was a sacred act of transformation. Tattooing was ceremony: a way to reclaim power, honor transformation and wear protection on your skin. That spirit still runs through what I do. Every tattoo I make is a little piece of magic. A reminder that your body is yours to make with meaning.

I also carry the legacy of the old circus women - bold, untamed and living freely carrying their art from town to town. To me, that’s what tattooing is at its core: freedom, ritual, connection, and rebellion in one. I want to stand in that raw, intentional, unapologetically free tradition.

As my journey continues, my mission has become clear: Im here to build real connection with my people - to build a community where everyone feels safe to come as is.