New Tool Helps Art Lovers Find Vegan Tattoo Artists

Online resource Vegan Tattoo Studios (VTS) launched on August 21 to connect tattoo enthusiasts with vegan artists around the world. Founder Olga Miller first had the idea for VTS while living in her hometown of Kiev, Ukraine, and the idea flourished into a popular Facebook group when Miller moved to Portland, OR two years ago. Miller ran the Vegan Tattoos Facebook group as a resource for members to get ideas for animal-rights themed tattoos through photo posts. Eventually, members of the group began posting information regarding animal products used in the tattoo industry—for instance, in the form of inks and after-care creams—which pushed Miller, a vegan herself, into action. “I noticed a growing number of questions from Facebook page visitors asking for recommendations to find a vegan tattoo artist in different areas of the world,” Miller told VegNews. “I couldn’t find any relevant resources on the web, where people could easily find the right artist, and thought that website with all of the necessary data would help a lot.” VTS currently has a database of more than 200 artists working around the world, and users find them by keying in their desired location into the search box. “I am very glad that this idea became a reality,” Miller said, “and I expect it will help to bring more attention to the vegan lifestyle by making veganism look cool, modern, and creative. I see many more people getting vegan tattoos, and I hope the website will create more demand for them!” The content portion of the platform will focus on informing visitors of the animal products present within the tattoo industry, interviews with vegan tattoo artists, and inspirational features about vegan-themed tattoos. Miller hopes to enable new features in the future, such as a one-stop booking and payment system. “I see tattoos as powerful messages,” Miller said. “By getting a vegan tattoo, a person is sharing their message to pay attention to animal-rights issues for their entire life.”

Photo courtesy of Marlaina Mortati