Martian Arts Tattoo Studio

Walked in here by chance really and went back 2 days in a row to see my dude, John! What a lucky walk-in experience honestly. The kindness and pure, raw talent of everyone in this studio really blew me away. John took his time with the 2 designs I brought him, one being far more complicated than the other and he absolutely nailed it and spent time making sure it was perfected. (will post pictures once it heals) I'll definitely be back! Highly recommend checking them out!

Martian Tattoo Ever try to get a tattoo on a whim, only to realize you are too particular about what goes on your body for that plan to survive contact with reality. That’s exactly what happened here, and it’s exactly why this shop earned my respect. I went in with bigger ideas than the time allowed. Sierra, the tattoo artist, was direct and honest about it. She told me no. Not because she couldn’t do the work, but because she couldn’t do it well in the window I was asking for. That’s integrity, and it’s exactly what you want in a tattoo shop. Before that conversation, I spent time looking through the artist portfolios, and they’re impressive across the board. Clean lines, confident style, and a range that suggests people here know what they’re doing. That context matters. Hearing “no” from someone whose work you already trust lands very differently. My companion did end up getting tattooed, and it was a great example of that quality in action. Sierra designed and executed a simple, elegant piece of two pine trees with a crescent moon. The line work was clean, the composition felt balanced, and the whole process was calm and unrushed. There was no pressure to squeeze me in, no attempt to steer either of us toward something faster or easier just to make a sale. The message was consistent. If it can’t be done well, it shouldn’t be done at all. The shop felt professional, grounded, and thoughtful. Even without leaving with new ink myself, I left confident I’d found the right place. I plan on coming back to Portland, and when I do, this is where I’ll be getting tattooed. Next time I’ll be better prepared.

I'm on my 5th tattoo from Joanne and I cannot say enough. Her line work, coloring and shading are exceptional. I have been extremely happy with every single design from start to finish. She is so wonderful to work with and the environment is very laid back and easy to sit through the needle work. My last piece is a side calf piece, full of color that she was able to complete in a six hour session. We were both tired but so happy with the outcome. Bonus is that Martian Arts is in the coolest part of Portland with shops, cafes and restaurants to check out before or after your session! :)