2026 Tattoo Awards Photos
By Olivia Lunger By Lillian MK Photography
2026 Tattoo Awards Winners
Favorite Color Tattoo Evan Olin, Powerline Tattoo Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray Ryan Dowden, Dark Ritual Runner-up: Luis Bold, Unicorn Ink Favorite Black & Gray with Color Steven McDonough, Secret Safe Tattoo Runner-up: Rachel WS, Rachel WS Fine Art Tattoos Favorite New School Style Mackenzie Blinn, Unicorn Ink Runner-up: Kimberly Miranda, […]
My Magical First Tattoo: London called
It’s my first time in London all by myself. My first time ever, I had my family and friends with me, but now it’s different. I want to mark my journey with Harry Potter, expressing my love for JK Rowling, while sporting a spell that emits love and light on my body at all times. […]
Celebrate Becoming a Mom with Some Beautiful Maternity Henna
It’s hard to picture celebrating a pregnancy with a temporary tattoo, especially given all the risks that come with carrying a little one. In some cultures however, henna, also known as Mehndi, is actually a very popular and beautiful way to celebrate pregnancy, which can certainly spawn some amazing ideas this Mother’s Day season. You’ve […]
Apprenticeship: Sacred Traditions Tattoo
19-year-old Sidney Lepore grew up with many artists in her family. She took an interest in art early on in life and always wanted a career that required creativity. At 18, she drew up a design of her cat, took it to a local shop, and got her first tattoo. “Seeing my own drawing as […]
MAKING POINTS WITH THE MOTTS
Once upon a time, if you wanted a tattoo, one of the things you could do was traipse to Newport from any of the four corners of the world and get yourself a tattoo drawn by a character named Carlton Mott, better known as Buddy. Tattoos were popularized at first by sailors who had them […]
ON THE COVER: Mish
The tattoo artist who goes by Mish, of Fall River, MA, created this month’s cover. “I got the nickname when I was younger, and it just kinda stuck,” she says. Also, it stirs a little mystery into life. Mish was born in Watertown, NY, and, after graduating high school, attended the University of Rhode Island, […]
2026 RI Tattoo Awards
“May your tattoo ink never run dry,” as the ancient Portlandian blessing goes, has rarely been more applicable. Motif is proud to partner again with Narragansett Brewery to bring you the RI Tattoo Awards, a recognition of one of the most prevalent day-to-day art forms, ever evolving in its technique, technology, social standing and emotional […]
Motif’s 2025 RI Tattoo Awards Winners and Interviews!
Our Tattoo Awards took place the night of May 13th, and what a night it was! Narragansett Brewery was packed with tattooers, tattoo-bearers, and folks who just rolled in to see what all the fuss was about. A line of hopefuls waited outside before it even began, looking to get free Hi-Neighbor ink. Tattoo models […]
Like Dots In A Line: Angels Collective highlights the community aspect of tattooing
From pin-up girls and anchors, to clocks and lions; fine-line infinity signs and finger mustaches, to cyber-sigil and patchwork, tattooing is an art that is in constant flux and conversation with the changing world and culture around it. Originating as a practice used for religious and spiritual rituals, to mark status, love, and even used […]