⋆.ೃ࿔*:･It’s National Co-Op Month & we’re starting a cooperative tattoo studio in Central Austin! Patchwork Tattoo is queer-owned, woman-owned, poc-owned and, perhaps most importantly, worker-owned.

☆To make a long story short:

Patchwork has a full team, has secured an amazing location, is fully licensed, and our first and last month’s rent is paid. We waited until this was a sure thing to ask our community for help. Here’s what we need: $700 to offset rent while we build out the studio, $600 toward an initial supply buy, and $1200 to finish furnishing the studio with tattoo equipment. Any leftover funds after these purchases are made, or funds raised in excess of our $2500 goal, will jumpstart a collective fund for emergencies/future operational costs. The studio will be cooperative, artist-driven, street-facing, radically inclusive and welcoming of all clients.

☆To let a long story be long:

To our knowledge, Patchwork will be the only studio of its kind in Austin. Being a cooperative means each resident tattooer at Patchwork is a studio owner. A patchwork is a whole created from many different pieces, brought together with care and intention. Like its namesake, Patchwork Tattoo is the amalgamation of the long-time aspirations of six artists working in Austin, Texas.

Patchwork Tattoo is

⭑Jules, a tattoo artist and freelance illustrator since 2018, born and raised in Austin, TX. “I love my friends and I’m excited to share this space with them as tattoo enjoyers & build community with my amazing studio mates and fellow rockstars.”

⭑Vero, an Austinite tattooing since 2022 and lifelong visual artist. “I’m excited to open Patchwork because I think community oriented creative spaces are becoming increasingly rare, and I see a lot of value in opening a space that is worker-owned. The ethos of Patchwork aligns with broader visions for local community structures that I hold dear to my heart. I hope that the shop will not only serve as a home for our team of artists and clients, but also as a model for other local creatives.”

⭑Rae, a visual designer and tattoo artist. Austin-born, they have been working with skin since 2022 and recently graduated from UT Austin. “Patchwork is special because there is no space like it. A true collective, the studio will be brimming with creativity, community, and cause. I am so excited to create a beautiful home with my friends.”

⭑Rie, a full time tattooer since 2018 from Chicago, IL. “I’ve worked in a variety of studio situations from small private studios to big commercial operations and found that when struggles arise, they tend to originate from the same place: hierarchical and profit-focused business structures creating a lack of financial transparency, a lack of job security, and most importantly, a lack of trust. With Patchwork, we want to create a studio where the wellbeing of artists comes first, and that means putting no one and nothing before them: Patchwork artists are owners, sharing equally in all decision making, operational labor, and financial responsibilities. This cooperative structure will allow artists to support themselves and one another more freely and I’m so stoked to be a part of building that.”

⭑Xochitl Duran, full time tattoo tattooer since 2020 from San Antonio, TX. “I am so excited to be starting this studio with a group of amazing and talented artists. Tattooing is so near and dear to my heart, and the opportunity to create and contribute to this shared space is so important to me.”

⭑Sammy, originally from San Antonio, TX, has been tattooing since 2023. “I’m most excited about Patchwork because it feels like we are going to create a space different than the rest. It is especially significant for me because it will be my first time working in a studio, and, more importantly, a studio that values its workers and community. How lucky am I to be working alongside such talented & inspiring artists!”

We are so grateful for any help and support as we bring Patchwork to life. See you soon in Central Austin! ｡°꩜.ೃ࿔