“As a black woman tattoo artist, there are definitely challenges. Tattooing, at least in America, is very much historically a boys club and dominated by men, mostly white men. Although the culture is much better now, initially there was a little bit of static.”

- Mecca

about: Black Tattoo Anthology®

An artist fellowship, living archive and digital campus dedicated to reclaiming, preserving, and reimagining Black tattoo culture across the diaspora. Founded and stewarded by Master Tattoo Artist and author Imani K. Brown®, the BTA documents our stories through scholarship, artistry, and community.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to cultural stewardship: honoring ancestral tattoo traditions, amplifying Black tattoo artists, and creating spaces where our creativity is remembered as inheritance, not erased as trend. From the Collective of participating artists, to our Podcast where culture bearers speak their truths, the Anthology is both a record and a ritual—an invitation to witness how ink carries memory, identity, and liberation.

We invite you to become a paid subscriber to sustain this work. Your support powers our digital campus, uplifts the artists who make up the Collective, and ensures that Black tattoo culture is preserved for future generations. | Website

Get full access to Shoppe Gal® Diaries at ipukekawaii.substack.com/subscribe