JESSICA FOX

WE ONLY HAVE LIMITED TIME IN THIS TRADE BEFORE OUR BODIES START TO BREAK DOWN, AND IF YOU FIGURE IT OUT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER- YOU CAN USE TATTOOING TO TRAVEL THE WORLD.

Jessica Fox is an award-winning, community-focused queer tattoo artist living in Buffalo, New York. She just won Best Local Tattoo Artist in 2022. Jessica specializes in blackwork tattooing with a traditional approach but comes from an art background. She has been working diligently to change the way people collect tattoos- but by no means is she the first to do so. She is pushing for the idea of creating abstract and dark art on a living canvas that ages and will eventually expire. Morbid thought it may be, tattooists’ work only exists so long and changes as the body ages. She has tattooed across the United States, learning her craft primarily in LA; she is currently the owner of True Gloom Tattoo, which also doubles as an oddities storefront ⸺ Who/where do you get your inspiration from? Tattoos, to me, are a huge form of adornment, and my goal is to create artwork that resonates on a level without the influence of a client. My current intention is to create content that interests me-I typically will create a list that will get posted, and potential collectors are offered a chance to get them. These themes can be tales from old books, occult and religious iconography, funeral imagery, gravestone rubbings, and things that are often viewed as haunted/vintage ⸺ What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) My best advice is to do your research and if you find someone’s work and morale you align with- trust their process. Not every tattoo artist works and conducts business the same; if you can travel to get tattooed, you should do it. Talking to the artist in person is always better, but sometimes it’s not always possible, so don’t be afraid to ask questions ⸺ What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? If you’re new, you can’t skip the struggle. There is no elevator to the top; tattooing forces you to take the stairs. Be a sponge; drown in it. We only have limited time in this trade before our bodies start to break down, and if you figure it out sooner rather than later- you can use tattooing to travel the world. Take care of your bodies, some clients are with us for life, and we have to be here for them. If you own a shop, be a leader, not a dictator. What you leave behind for someone else is all we have at the end of the road. ✕