(short for Alexandria, but only my mom calls me that when I’m in trouble). I’m a tattoo artist based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with 15+ years of creativity under my belt and a serious love for turning ideas into tattoos.

I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil. My love for art started back in elementary school, where I was the go-to kid for horse drawings and Pokémon doodles (I probably spent more time sketching in notebooks than actually learning math and science). I’ve always had a restless passion for creating, and over the years I’ve dipped my hands into just about every medium you can think of.

I went to school for graphic design (which I still love), but something always felt off. The passion just wasn’t there. Deep down, I knew I wanted to tattoo ever since I got my first tattoo in high-school. But self-doubt held me back for a long time, worried I wouldn’t be taken seriously, that I was “too old” to start over, or that I wasn’t good enough. Eventually, I decided to stop letting fear call the shots. I stopped caring what other people thought and started leaning into who I really was. I began getting more tattoos, surrounding myself with the art and culture I had always admired. And with every piece, I fell deeper in love with tattooing as an art form.

I didn’t rush into tattooing, and though I sometimes wish I’d started sooner, I waited until I found the right mentor, someone I respected, someone who would challenge me to grow and help me earn my place not just as a tattooer, but as an artist, and I’m so glad I did.

Tattooing is more than a job to me. It’s personal, sacred, rebellious, nostalgic, and healing. I’m endlessly inspired by the stories people carry on their skin, and I feel so honored every time I get to help bring one of those stories to life. I’m especially drawn to traditional tattoos, the bold lines, the timeless feel, the way they can turn anyone from zero to badass in an instant,…but I’m down to create just about anything that makes you feel like you!

When I’m not at the shop, you can probably find me at a concert (loud music = soul fuel), watching the same 3 Netflix shows I’ve seen a million times, obsessing over Radiohead, or hanging out with my dog, Barret (who is part-time emotional support animal, full-time shadow, and the true MVP of my life).

Follow my personal instagram for more @alliebarringerr