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For this year’s Choice awards, there aren’t many 2021 Tattoo Studio of Choice winners. This is due to how thoroughly we research before choosing the artist and studio we work with in any given country. We spend dozens of hours looking at different artists and their art online before contacting anyone.
Whenever possible we then follow that up by pounding the pavement. We ask locals if there are any lesser-known tattooing traditions and methods for their country or even region. If there is we then try to find out if there are any artists who still practice those traditions.
However, if there isn’t we instead try meeting a few of the artists from our research and check out their studios. When all that is done we make our final decision on who to work with. Most of that is based on the artist, but a large portion of our decision-making comes down to the tattoo studio itself. If it’s well kept, supplies are one-time use or reused, etc.
You can have to best artist in the world, but if their studio is dirty or otherwise dangerous then you should avoid it. The red flags are essential to picking the right shop.
Due to the pandemic travelling was near an all-time low so we didn’t have a chance to see as many studios as usual. Of the several that we did have a chance to see, and talk to about working with them, we found only two deserving of the Tattoo Studio of Choice award. The third was one from before the pandemic that we felt also deserved the award.
Fat Fox Tattoo
Vienna, Austria
The people of Fat Fox Tattoo are incredible. We loved being able to meet and work with them in the fall. We took special care finding this one as we knew whoever we worked with in Austria would be in charge of a tattoo that would be special to us. What with Lisa being from there and whatnot. After much research and searching, Fat Fox was the studio we wanted to work with. You can see our full review here.
We are pumped to hear the recent news that they will be opening a second location in Vienna! They deserve the success they are having as well as being among our 2021 Tattoo Studio of Choice Winners.
Lobster Tattoo
Split, Croatia
Finding someone who still did traditional Croatian tattooing was difficult. Most Croatians these days don’t seem to know the history of tattooing in their country. The few who did know something pointed to Lobster Tattoo.
Every interaction with Lobster Tattoo from that initial walk-in was phenomenal. We would find it difficult to find any reason why Lobster Tattoo shouldn’t be among our 2021 Tattoo Studio of Choice Winners. Our full review can be found here.
Wowa Tattoo
Prague, Czech Republic
Although we didn’t have our experience with Wowa Tattoo in 2021 we still felt like they deserved this award. They are one of the studios that started us thinking about these awards. Then the pandemic hit and plans kind of got halted.
Wowa tattoo is a lovely little shop with only one artist just outside of central Prague. It’s been open for over a decade and a quick look at any art that comes from there will show you why. It’s quite masterful.
Despite the owner not speaking English communication was not much of an issue. A bit of google translate was needed is all. The owner goes above and beyond to give people the best tattoo experience possible.
We are glad to be able to list Wowa Tattoo among the 2021 Tattoo Studios of Choice. They do not get the recognition they deserve.
Final Words
We are disappointed in the lack of studios we were able to see and work with during 2021. It was a rough year. Hopefully, we will have the chance to work with many more in 2022, pandemic willing.
If you are looking for a tattoo in any of these areas then checking out our 2021 Restaurant of Choice winners is a must!
Keep an eye out tomorrow for the announcement of our 2021 Nomadic Inscribers of Choice.
Stay authentic. Stay nomadic. Let the world inscribe itself on you as you inscribe yourself on it. We’ll see you next year!
