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

thanks for stopping by. books are closed right now, and they reopen in spring 2027.

if you'd like to hear first when they open, join the list below. you'll get one email when books open and that's it, no monthly emails. joining doesn't hold a spot or a date, it just means you hear first.

book openings

be first to know when books open.

• 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

how booking works

when books reopen, here's how it goes. simple, and i'll walk you through each step.

start with the booking form below. tell me a bit about what you're thinking.

then we'll meet for a consultation, about 15 to 20 minutes at the shop, and talk it through together.

a $100 non-refundable deposit holds your date, due within 48 hours of the consultation.

need to move it? one free reschedule with 72 hours notice.

i'll send a confirmation and some prep tips before your appointment, so you know what to expect.

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

cash is preferred, but cards and venmo work too.

you'll need to be 18, with a photo id. and you're welcome to bring one person along for support.

books are closed until spring 2027, but if you send the form now, i'll be in touch as soon as there's availability.

faqs

  • rest well, eat a full meal, and drink water before your appointment. wear something comfortable that gives 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. and lotion the area for a couple of weeks ahead, so your skin is nice and hydrated.

  • everyone feels it a little differently, and some spots are more sensitive than others. 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 the word, we'll take care of you.

  • you'll get detailed aftercare instructions after your session. keep it clean, out of direct sunlight, and stay out of pools and hot tubs until it's fully healed. and if anything comes up while you're healing, just ask.

  • the surface heals in about 2 to 3 weeks, and the deeper layers can take up to 6 weeks. following the aftercare closely makes all the difference.

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

  • yes, you’re welcome to bring one person along for support.

  • you’ll need to be 18. just bring a valid photo id.

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

  • that's what the consultation is for. bring your ideas and references, and we'll shape them into a design that fits you, together.

  • i don't send designs ahead, but we'll look at it together at your appointment, and there's plenty of time to talk through any tweaks 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. i'd love to book you in after.

  • cash is preferred, but cards and venmo work too. if you were planning another way, just ask ahead.

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 you into every piece. i'm co-owner of dark matter tattoo gallery in madison, wi.