Oregon’s boom in new tattoo artists started during the pandemic

Oregon has a rich tattoo history, from Indigenous practitioners to sailors. And Oregon newspapers have run stories about tattoos since the early 20th century. Within the state you can see all styles represented, from American traditional to fine lines and realism. There is no shortage of inked skin in the state, but as data obtained by OPB from OHA’s Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners show, the number of tattoo artists has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2019 to 2024, Oregon saw a 77% increase in the number of tattoo licenses at the state level. What does this increase mean for the industry and what was it about the pandemic that created this spike in numbers? To answer these questions and more we’ll hear from Chris Clark and Alia Bird, co-owners of Birdhouse Tattoo in Portland, and Seth Rowan, owner of the Bend Tattoo Company.

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