Black-and-white rose illustration with dark leaves, a red-and-black spider, and scattered black dots

Antonio

@blkngray

fine line black and gray tattoos, flowers, botanical work & micro-realism

dark matter tattoo gallery, madison, wi

books are currently closed.

reopening spring 2027.

join the list to hear first when books open. you'll get one email when books open. no monthly emails, nothing else. joining the list doesn't reserve a spot or a date, it just means you hear first.

• some things grow quietly, in their own time, whether or not anyone is watching • thank you bri for the trust, dedication & strength . . . #madisontattooartist #finelinetattoo #botanicaltattoo
Finally know that you didn't have to hold on so tight. To realize that all your life-you know, all your love, all your hate, all your memory, all your pain-it was all the same thing. It was all the same dream. A dream that you had inside a locked r
• every flower spends its life believing it is becoming. & then one day, it realizes it has been blooming the entire time •
• gone but never forgotten •
•wren•
• here's to the ships that carried us, the waters that tested us, the fish that sustained us, & the storms that revealed us • . . . . . #madisontattooartist #madison #wisconsin #milwaukee #chicago
Somewhere along the line everything started asking to be seen. Every thought, every meal, every drawing, every wound, every quiet moment put neatly into the little rectangle in our hands and offered up to strangers before it even had time to become
• a small piece of autumn for a snowy night •
Healed vase & fresh flowers
• buncha stuff ive had the privilege of doing recently • . . . . . #madisontattooartist #wisconsintattooartist #floraltattoo #candelabra #hummingbirds #filigree#butterfly #dragonfly #shrimp #molecule
• had such a blast making this piece. huge thanks to makena for the trust & for sitting so great on every sitting. all is healed except the wings • . . . . . #madisontattooartist #reapers #love #tattoos #madison #wisconsin #dubuque #r

book openings

first to know when books open.

how booking works

when books reopen, here's how it works.

send the booking form below.

then a consultation, about 15 to 20 minutes at the shop.

a $100 non-refundable deposit is due within 48 hours of the consultation to hold your date.

one free reschedule with 72 hours notice.

confirmation and prep tips go out before your appointment.

$180 to $200 an hour. touch-ups are free for the first 6 months, except on certain locations or designs.

no designs sent ahead of the appointment.

cash preferred, cards and venmo accepted.

18+ with photo id. one visitor welcome

books are closed until spring 2027. if you send the form now, i'll be in touch with availability.

faqs

  • rest well, eat a full meal, and drink water before your appointment. wear comfortable clothes that give easy access to the area. skip alcohol the day before and the day of. if you take prescribed blood thinners, don't stop them. talk to your doctor first and let me know before booking. lotion the area for a couple of weeks ahead, so your skin is hydrated.

  • it depends on the person and the placement. some areas are more sensitive than others, and some people find it easier than they expected. i work light-handed, and you can ask for a break or an adjustment any time during the session. just say so.

  • you'll get detailed aftercare instructions after your session. keep it clean, avoid direct sunlight, and stay out of pools and hot tubs until it's fully healed. questions while you heal, just ask.

  • the surface heals in about 2 to 3 weeks. deeper layers can take up to 6 weeks. follow the aftercare closely.

  • price depends on size, complexity, and placement. i'll give you an estimate at your consultation. my rate is $180 to $200 an hour. a $100 non-refundable deposit is due within 48 hours of consultation to hold your date.

  • yes, you're welcome to bring one support person.

  • you must be 18. bring a valid photo id.

  • yes, touch-ups are free for the first 6 months, except on certain locations or designs.

  • we'll work on it together at your consultation. bring your ideas and references, and we'll shape them into a design that fits you.

  • no, designs aren't sent ahead. we'll look at the design together at your appointment, and there's time to review it and talk through adjustments before we start.

  • i don't tattoo while you're pregnant or breastfeeding. the main concern is infection risk, and the effects of tattoo ink in pregnancy haven't been studied. happy to book you in after.

  • cash preferred. cards and venmo accepted. ask ahead if you plan to pay another way.

Abstract grayscale fluid marbling pattern with flowing layered swirls on a white background

Meet Antonio

i'm from brooklyn, ny. i got my first tattoo in 2008 and knew right away i wanted to be a tattooer. i started tattooing that year, learning the trade under a mentor's watch. i've been at it since 2008, based mostly in new york city, working in over 20 states and dozens of studios along the way.

i work in fine line black and gray, with a love for micro-realism. flowers are my specialty. botanical work, fine line florals, and pieces that age well with the body. i try to bring a bit of the person into every piece. i'm co-owner of dark matter tattoo gallery in madison, wi.