Favorite Animal/ Favorite Floral
Tara D’Agostino – Iron Lion Tattoo
By the numbers, Tara D’Agostino got her first tattoo at the age of 15, picked up her own tattoo machine at the age of 19, opened her own tattoo parlor 16 years ago, has been a tattoo artist for 20 years, and has won Motif Tattoo Awards for 8 years running now, amassing 4 Favorite Animal, 4 Favorite Black & Gray (her specialty), 1 Favorite Character, and 1 Critics Choice, among others. Born and raised in Cranston, she’s a graduate of Rhode Island College. She’s always had a passion for fine art, and does most of her sketches in charcoal and graphite. In the tattoo community, D’Agostino is well known for her distinctive lettering. Her studio, Iron Lion Tattoo, is located at 1201 Post Road, Warwick. “Just come check us out,” she says. A certified
Reiki practitioner, D’Agostino also offers at Iron Lion such holistic services as intuitive tattoos, sound baths, meditation, and oracle card readings. ironliontattoo.com.
— John Picinich
Favorite Anime / Favorite Cover Up
Roberto “Sunny” Ruiz – Majora’s Mark Tattoo Studio
Roberto “Sunny” Ruiz first started drawing while watching the “Blue’s Clues” educational TV show. But when he saw “Dragon Ball Z,” he was immediately captivated by anime; what really got him hooked was “Samurai Champloo,” he relates on his website, sunnystattoos.com. Sunny is owner/artist of Majora’s Mark Tattoo Studio, 1020 Bald Hill Road, Suite 108, Warwick. He specializes in high-detail full color, black-and-gray anime tattoos, along with realism, neo-traditional, and blackwork for all skin tones. Sunny’s passion for anime transforms beloved characters into real-life pieces of art. He’s on Instagram @sunnystattoos.
– John Picinich
Favorite Back Tattoo/ Favorite Black, Grey, Color/ Judge’s Pick Best Traditional
Steven McDonough – Tattoo Magic
A professional tattoo artist for the past six years, Steven McDonough of Providence works out of Tattoo Magic, 50 Agnes Street, Unit 305, in the Olneyville section of PVD. He’s known for his bold designs with vibrant colors. When he first started out, McDonough sometimes messed up a design for a client. He fixed it, of course. “That’s how you learn,” was the way he put it during his interview at the Tattoo Awards. McDonough is on FB at fb.com/steven.mcdonough.1610 and Instagram @secretsafetattoo.
– John Picinich
Favorite Black & Grey/ Favorite Linework
Ryan Dowden – Dark Ritual Tattoo Studios
When he was 16 years old, Ryan Dowden gave himself his first tattoo. He’s been tattooing with a professional license for a couple of years now. The 21-year-old works out of Dark Ritual Tattoo Studios (which recently changed its name from Renaissance Tattoo), located at 32 Main Street, Suite 1, Woonsocket. The studio also does piercings. An anime aficionado, Dowden particularly enjoys Bleach, and Naruto. His work ranges from horror, to anime (no surprise), to linework.
He’s gained much of his experience through apprenticeships and tattoo conventions. When he went for his license, he recalls, “I pulled out every trick in the book I could from my mentor, and from everybody whoever taught me anything.” He himself is covered in tattoos, he adds. His work can be found on Instagram @red.top.tattoos.
– John Picinich
Favorite Character / Favorite New School
Mackenzie “Kenz” Blinn – Unicorn Ink
Going by Kenz, Mackenzie Blinn has been tattooing for the past three years. She works out of Unicorn Ink, 100 Higginson Avenue, Suite 1, Lincoln. She specializes in drawing characters from anime and video games. “I really like doing Pokémon,” she says, noting that her Princess Peach – quite the character – garnered her an award. Her portfolio can be viewed at https://www.instagram.com/kenz.tattoos/ and on Unicorn’s site at https://www.unicornink.com/kenz.html.
– John Picinich
Favorite Color Tattoo/ Judge’s Pick Best Bird
Evan Olin – Powerline Tattoo
Owner of Powerline Tattoo, Olin earned his artistic background from RISD, where he received his Bachelors degree in Illustration. This experience allows him to create realistic and paint-like styles in his tattoos. Specializing in horror, wildlife (like that flipping bird), and portraits, Olin strives to deliver one-of-a-kind tattoos to his clients. His work can be found at @evanolintattoo.
Favorite Cover Up/ Favorite Mythological/ Judge’s Pick Best Glitter/ Most Votes Overall
Kimberly Miranda – Memento Tattoo
Kimberly Miranda does a lot of dragons. In fact, her Favorite Mythological award was for, as she puts it, “This big black and gray with a lot of clouds and mountains.” With nine years of experience under her belt, Miranda joined Memento Tattoo RI in December of 2025. The studio is located at 2399 Pawtucket Avenue, Unit 4, East Providence.
Her work ranges from mythology, to cover-up, to color, to black-and-white. Miranda’s passion shows in her artistry. Likewise, her determination. Her advice: “Hang in there. It’s a lot of work, but if you want it bad enough, you will get there. And it’s worth it.” Miranda’s on Instagram @kimberlynbtexas.
– John Picinich
Favorite Horror/ Favorite Portrait
Panda – Stone Lotus Tattoo
The tattoo artist who goes by Panda calls horror his “favorite subject to tattoo ever.” When asked to name his favorite horror movie, he replies, The Lost Boys, adding, “I don’t know if I consider it a horror movie, but it’s vampires and hella dope.” Panda, who specializes in free-handed and hand-stencil designs, works out of Stone Lotus Tattoo, 31 Exchange Street, Pawtucket. “I’m working on a Buddha back piece right now for another tattoo artist out of Massachusetts, and it’s the biggest back piece that I’ve ever done,” he says. Sounds enlightening. His work can be viewed on Instagram @createdby.panda.
– John Picinich
Favorite Skull/ Favorite Traditional
Chris Kanti – Hope Street Tattoo
A professional tattooer for the past three years, Chris Kanti specializes in traditional tattooing with strong linework and Asian influences. He works out of Hope Street Tattoo, 77 Burlington Street, PVD. He served in the US Navy for ten years before taking a medical retirement. Kanti draws from his naval experience to focus his attention to detail, in order to bring worldly cultures into his work. He’s especially known for translating life experiences into meaningful art
that is personally tailored for each of his clients. His portfolio can be found on Instagram @chriskanti.tattoo and @hopestreettattoo.
– John Picinich
Favorite Typography
Emily Parker – Memento Tattoo
Earning her license in 2022, Neo-Traditional tattoo artist Emily Parker has been recognized for three years running in Motif’s Tattoo Awards, earning one award each year. She’s known for her bold lines, detailed designs, and bright colors. Parker works out of Memento Tattoo, 2399 Pawtucket Avenue, Unit 4, East Providence.
She finds her confidence not in her own skill, but in her clients themselves. Parker explains: “It’s not the tattoo you’re doing, but it’s how the client reacts after they’ve gotten the tattoo. That new confidence that they’ve gotten. You know, maybe we covered up an insecurity that they had, or honored somebody who’s passed away. That’s usually what really takes home the cake for me.” She’s on Instagram @emilytattoo_.
– John Picinich
Favorite Watercolor
Rachel WS – Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos
Before turning to tattooing, Rachel earned her degree in Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and taught high school for years. She later became a fully licensed tattoo artist, specializing in fine detail, color, linework, black & grey, cover-up and scar work. Her lighter touch on this ephemeral bird was a clear fan favorite. rachelws.com
– Bobby Forand
Judge’s Pick Best Patchwork
David Asgarian – Unicorn Ink
Working in the industry for over 25 years, David Asgarian uses his keen eye for design to create living art. Opening Unicorn Ink in 2012, he strives to create an experience that is comfortable and memorable for his clients. Drawing inspiration from graphic designs, gaming, music and more, he specializes in bold traditional designs, blackwork, and custom pieces. This year, his playful patch submissions inspired the judging panel to create a new category. Perhaps it’s a bit patchwork, but Asgarian’s realistic stitching really stood out. You can find his artwork at @firsteditiondave.
Most Write In Votes
Jay Blackburn – Unicorn Ink
Passionate about bringing animated worlds to life, Jay Blackburn has been creating vibrant artwork for his clients since 2011. He works out of Unicorn Ink, 100 Higginson Avenue, Lincoln, and designed the cover for Motif’s Tattoo Issue last year. Blackburn turned to tattooing after years of working in graphic design and creating logos, while doing some carpentry. The idea of the human body as a canvas for art appeals to him. Blackburn’s distinctive technique uses over-exaggerated imagery, wonky shapes, and animated characters from anime, like Pokémon, and Disney. His work can be seen on Instagram @jay_blackburn and at.unicornink.com.
– John Picinich
Reconstructive/ Cosmetic
Kristen Lanctot – Beautiful Ink
After working in the medical field for 24 years as a surgical technician, Kristen Lanctot earned her certificate in 3D Nipple and Areola Tattooing and Scar Camouflaging in 2020 from the Sauler Institute of Tattooing. Along with offering her services at Beautiful Ink, she is the Women’s Oncology Fellowship Coordinator at Breast and Plastic Surgeons at Women and Infants Hospital. Kristen’s consistently award-winning camouflaging are a fully realized example of how the art of tattooing can impact self-esteem and make a life-altering difference in the life of a client. klmtattoo.com
– Bobby Forand
Most Winningest Shop
Unicorn Ink
Opening their doors in 2012, Unicorn Ink is an award-winning tattoo shop dedicated to offering high quality tattoos. With a diverse team of artists who specialize in an array of styles, satisfaction of the customer is the shop’s top priority, ensuring strict sanitation standards and treating every client with the same level of care. In contrast to all this seriousness, Unicorn is also known for their flashy moves – like a full-glittered Unicornmobile van that hits the road on their behalf – and a shop-wide whimsical sense of humor, color, and flamboyance. unicornink.com