As a successful, female owned and operated tattoo studio since 2001, Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective is a living testament that women have come a long way in the industry of tattooing. What was once a boys club is now a flourishing profession for women in competitive and leadership roles.

We’ve seen a shift in those who are getting tattooed as well. It is quite common in North America for men and women alike to have at least one tattoo on their body. The tradition of tattooing itself is ancient, and can be traced back to many Indigenous communities across the world. We see evidence in history that shows women who were tattooed and tattooers as far back as 2000 BCE. In western histories we know of trailblazers such as Maud Wagner and Millie Hull, the mothers of modern tattooing. But, we can also point to eastern, as well as Indigenous communities worldwide that put tattooing in the hands of women as a cultural practice for centuries up until the modern day. Here are some trailblazing women who paved the way for the current climate of female tattooers.

Whang-od Oggay

Born in the small village of Buscalan, Philippines, Whang-od is known as the oldest working artist in the world at over 100 years old. Tattooing since the age of 15, Whang-od was taught her culture’s traditional artform of hand tapped tattooing from her master tattooer father. She was the first female in the Kalinga tribe allowed to learn the male dominated practice, due to her father’s recognition of her potential and natural talent for the art. This tattooing process is composed of materials indigenous to the land, such as a pomelo thorn for the needle and charcoal from the bottom of cooking pots mixed with water for ink. Whang-od’s practice in Buscalan has, in the past few years, caught the attention of tattoo lovers all over the world who now travel to receive her work. This has resulted in a tourism boom and wealth influx for the community, which Whang-od hopes will continue long after she dies. The female master now passes down the tradition to her all female apprentices, including her nieces Grace and llyang, preserving the practice in the hands of women for future generations.

Maud Wagner

Touted as America’s first female tattoo artist, Maud Wagner is a pioneer for western women in this business. She was born in 1877, and ran away to join the circus as a teen. Upon meeting Gus Wagner, her heavily tattooed future husband, she agreed to go on a date with him under the condition that he would teach her how to tattoo. She learned the hand poke tattoo method and became the first woman to master this form of tattooing in America. Maud used it exclusively throughout her career, despite the invention of mechanical machines. Gus and Maud had a daughter named Lovetta, who they trained in tattooing, and went on to become a successful tattooer in her own right.

Millie Hull

Known as “The Queen of the Bowery” for her legendary status of becoming the only female tattoo artist in New York City in her time, Millie Hull started her career as a burlesque dancer in the circus. After receiving a tattoo from the famous Charles Wagner, Hull took it upon herself to learn the art of tattooing. She is one of the only pioneer women in tattoo history to be self-taught, instead of having the practice passed on to them by a boyfriend or husband. Hull opened her own shop called Tattoo Emporium, in the Bowery neighbourhood in New York City, which became the workplace of many famous artists in the 1940s.

Jacci Gresham

Aart Accent Tattoos & Body Piercing is the oldest continuous tattoo studio in New Orleans and is owned by 71 year old tattooer, Jacci Gresham. Gresham grew up in Flint, Michigan but moved to New Orleans in the 1970’s where she became the first Black woman to open a tattoo studio in the US, and the only Black female artist in New Orleans at the time. Her entry into the industry broke barriers for not only women in a predominantly male space, but Black people in an overwhelmingly white space, and provided service for Black clients who were often turned away at other shops because of their dark skin. Conversely, Gresham believes in total inclusivity in her shop, not discriminating against any artist or client at Aart Accent, reportedly even going so far as to tattoo a member of the KKK in her career. Gresham continues to use her shop and personal force in the tattoo industry to break down racial and cultural barriers to create a welcoming space for all clients and aspiring artists. It is fitting to Gresham’s personality and beliefs about tattooing that her shop motto is “Look Better Naked. Get a Tattoo.”

We at Liquid Amber Tattoo & Art Collective acknowledge that we have benefited from these and other pioneering folks in the tattoo industry. We are incredibly grateful for their contributions and salute them all! You can follow @ladytattooers on Instagram, or check out podcasts like @womenintattooingproject to learn more about the strides women are making in the tattoo industry. Who are some of the female pioneers in the tattoo world that inspire you? Let us know their stories in the comments below!