Make Mama Proud at Underground Art

Make Mama Proud at Underground Art

Despite tattoos' rock'n'roll reputation, there are a lot of rules at Underground Art in Cooper Young. The first set is on a sheet of paper Scotch taped to the door:

For Real. Underground Art, Memphis, Tenn.

The second set is on a laminated poster hanging at the front desk. The sign reminds clients that body art is not a spectator sport, the shop can ask you to leave at any time, and that no racist or hateful tattoos will be given, so don't even bother asking.

Maybe it's the rules that make the 17 year-old shop a perennial local favorite (one wall in the lobby is lined with "Best of Memphis" plaques). Currently, Underground Art employs three tattoo artists, a tattoo apprentice and a piercer.

Vanessa Waites at work, Underground Art, Memphis, Tenn.

Artist Vanessa Waites has worked at Underground Art for four years. She spent about two years doing her apprenticeship. Since then, she's done countless hours of inking - she said she does an average of 650 tattoos per year. Personally, she's had about 29 hours of work put into her eight tattoos.

When I stopped into the shop, she was prepping her station for her afternoon appointment - Steven, 23, was getting his fifth tattoo (a cave drawing that's also a logo for an industrial band).

Getting the tools ready, Underground Art, Memphis, Tenn.

It takes serious time to get ready to give a tattoo. All artists have to be state certified, and standards are high. All of the needles, razors (for removing hair on the tattoo surface), and tools are sterilized. Waites went through several pairs of rubber gloves before she even started touching her needle to Steven's skin.

Tattoos at Underground Art start at $60, and the hourly rate is $120. Walk-ins are taken as time allows, but if you're going to have something done, I'd recommend making an appointment. The shop is open Tuesday - Saturday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m.

(Flipside Memphis is a partnership between the CVB and Live From Memphis)

Check out the full photo gallery from Underground Art.

Go There:

Underground Art

2287 Young Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
(901) 272-1864

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hamlett
great post on a great place, you might want to check the "31 year-old shop" thing. I was in undergrad with Dave Evans when he and a couple of other guys started UA, that was probably in 1992 or 1993. But then again, I've been wrong twice already today. I could be wrong again. Keep up the great work, the blog is awesome, one of my faves on my feed.
April 22, 2010 10:10pm
Kerry (admin)
I was basing the 31 years off the information I could find for the shop's "birthday". Good people of Memphis, can anyone confirm?
April 23, 2010 10:31am
vanessa
The shop is 17 or 18 years old. I'll ask Angela for the specific date.
April 23, 2010 12:02pm
Angela Russell
We opened the shop February 1st, 1993 (who feels old?). -Angela Russell, owner Underground Art
April 26, 2010 9:18am
Erica Williams
Angela! are yall looking to hire an apprentice for piercing anytime soon? I've been looking around and was told that I wouldnt want to apprentice ANYWHERE else! Just Curious! :)
December 16, 2010 3:01pm
365 Memphians:…
[...] Ivy McLemore, tattoo apprentice at Underground Art. [...]
March 14, 2011 9:02am
kelsey mckay
hey angela i am in wallace group home now i miss you so much....
May 6, 2011 11:17am
Walkin’,…
[...] the lovely and talented Vanessa Waites, a tattoo artist at Underground Art in [...]
January 24, 2011 3:44pm