WHY CHRIS MURPHY
QUEENS BORN NEW YORK CITY TATTOO ARTIST
Fine Line • Black & Grey • American Traditional • Bold Color • Illustrative • Cartoon • Custom Tattoo Work • Floral Tattoos • Intricate Tattoos
WHY CHRIS MURPHY
Tattooing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
I'm a born and raised New Yorker, and I grew up watching my father tattoo. As a kid, I spent countless hours in tattoo shops, watching artwork come to life and seeing the confidence people carried with them after getting tattooed. Those early experiences shaped not only my career but also my understanding of what makes a great tattoo experience.
Today, after more than 16 years as a professional tattoo artist and over a decade tattooing at Red Rocket Tattoo in Midtown Manhattan, I still love tattooing just as much as I did growing up.
Whether you're visiting New York City or you're a longtime local, my goal is simple: create a tattoo you'll love and make the experience just as memorable as the artwork itself.
A Lifetime Around Tattooing
Unlike many tattoo artists, I was raised around tattooing, I didn't discover tattooing later in life—I grew up with it. I'm a SECOND GENERATION TATTOOER!
Watching my father work taught me early that tattooing is about much more than putting ink into skin. It's about trust, communication, craftsmanship, and creating something meaningful that someone will proudly wear for the rest of their life.
After more than sixteen years tattooing professionally, I continue to approach every client with that same philosophy.
────────────────────────────────────────────────
Tattoo Style & Specialties
One of the greatest advantages of spending more than ten years in one of New York City's busiest custom and walk-in tattoo studios is experience.
Every day brings new people, new ideas, and new creative challenges.
I enjoy working across a wide variety of tattoo styles, including:
• Fine Line Tattoos
• Black & Grey Tattoos
• American Traditional
• Bold Color Tattoos
• Illustrative Tattoos
• Cartoon Tattoos
• Custom Tattoo Design
Whether you arrive with a fully developed idea or only the beginning of one, we'll work together to create something that fits you. If you're still deciding, I also have a large collection of original flash available to help inspire the perfect tattoo.
────────────────────────────────────────────────
Why Clients Choose Chris
A tattoo should be an experience you'll remember for all the right reasons.
From your first consultation until your tattoo is complete, I want you to feel comfortable, informed, and excited about the process.
As a proud lesbian artist, creating a welcoming, body-positive, and inclusive environment is incredibly important to me. Everyone deserves to feel respected, comfortable, and free to be themselves while getting tattooed.
Whether it's your first tattoo or your fiftieth, my goal is to create artwork you'll be proud to wear while making sure you genuinely enjoy the experience of getting it.
────────────────────────────────────────────────
More Than Just a Tattoo
One of my favorite parts of tattooing is meeting people from around the world.
After living my entire life in New York City, I love helping visitors experience the city beyond the tourist attractions. Whether you're looking for the best pizza, coffee, museums, neighborhood spots, or hidden gems, I'm always happy to point you in the right direction.
When you leave my chair, I hope you take home more than a great tattoo.
I hope you leave with a lasting memory, a piece of New York City, and artwork that reminds you exactly who you are.
That's what tattooing has always meant to me, and it's what I strive to give every client who trusts me with their story.