Queen’s Gambit Tattoo was opened in 2021.

The goal of opening my own tattoo shop was to be able to focus on the tattoo art styles I like most so I can perfect my craft. Tattooing is a lifestyle for me, and a life-long commitment. I am constantly striving to improve the quality and aesthetic of the tattoos I am lucky enough to create so that I can provide clients of all ages, body types, and backgrounds the best tattoo possible.

I place a heavy emphasis on the longevity of tattoos and aim to provide tattoos that will age well in the skin on which they are applied. I love the vibe of the classic tattoo shop, where the walls are covered in traditional tattoo flash designs that can be picked right off the wall. Painting tattoo flash is something that’s taken a back seat in tattooing in the last couple of decades, and I feel like tattooing has lost some of it’s magic because of it. So it’s my goal to keep the tradition of hand drawn and hand-painted tattoo flash alive. Not all shops have tattoo flash painted by their resident artists up for display.

I did my traditional apprenticeship in Wahiawa, Hawaii in 2008, with Nancy and Buddy Conte’.  By 2009, I was a licensed tattoo artist with the state of Hawaii. Everyone who works in the shop maintains current blood borne pathogens certifications.  We have in house sterilization for both tattoo and piercing tools. All single use items are prepackaged, as required by law. The inks I use are sourced from the companies I’ve been working with for over a decade, and I’m proud to say that no one I’ve ever tattooed has had an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink I use.

I call my preferred style 90s Traditional, or 90s New School. My artistic background is heavily influenced by anime and cartooning, I went to college for Animation and Video Game design. My favorite designs to tattoo are very traditionally based tattoos, cartoony, or illustrative, with varied lines and a lot of black and bright color.

We have additional tattoo stations available, and are happy to host traveling tattoo artists coming to the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area for guest spots. Just shoot me an e-mail with the dates you’d like to book, and I’ll get you set-up.