NYC tattoo artist, Jeremy Garrett, specializes in precision custom body work

Owner, operator and licensed tattoo artist, Garrett has been tattooing professionally in NYC for over a decade. He is a fine artist raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Garrett received a scholarship and graduated from one of the country’s most acclaimed institutions, The School of Visual Arts in New York City. While in college, he started tattooing underground. After graduation, Garrett operated his own commercial and fine art studio located in New York City's East Village.

Although he is trained as a classical fine artist, Garrett's style lends itself to a unique mix of urban grunge, comic book art with a touch of post-surrealism and his work has continued to define that which is American underground art. Affluent collectors and top executives from Fortune 500 companies such as FedEx, ABC and by members of the Grand Lodge of New York's Masonic Order are only a few collectors who enjoy his diversity as an artist. As an accomplished graphic designer, he has worked with clients such as Kodak, Ralph Loren, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin and ABC News. His work has also been featured in publications throughout the country and he has been recognized in the internationally acclaimed Japanese GQ as one of NYC's premier tattoo artists "Where real New Yorkers go for tattooing". From 2000-2006 he taught commercial art at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts which is New York City's leading commercial art public high school. Garrett's work has been shown in galleries in New York City and in Jerusalem. Most recently, he has been recognized by the Israeli government as one of today's cutting edge artists.

Continually striving for perfection, technically and artistically, while at the same time not forgetting basic bedside manners, Garrett has remained true to that which is “American” underground art. Being a contributing member of the American underground art scene, e.g., comic book art, graffiti/street art as well as tattoo art, means not forgetting were he came from and getting lost in trying to perfect other cultural work. Garrett has been influenced by an array of artistic and cultural styles; however, he has continued to define his own. While Degas, the Orientalists, Japanese art, tribal art and the incredible work of Alphonse Mucha have been an influence on his work, it's the good-ol U.S of A and artists like Ralph Bakshi, Todd McFarlane, Robert Crumb, Robert Williams, Malcolm T. Liepke, Richard Mirando a.k.a. Seen, Aaron Cain and Chris Dingwell who have shaped him as an artist.

NYC is crammed with many talented artists. The creative energy this generates is fantastic. Unfortunately, many tattooists get lost in this and their individuality as artists suffers. They get trapped in the never ending quest to do the most photo-realistic piece or baddest Asian art tattoo and in the end they marginalize themselves. It becomes difficult to tell one artists work from another's and it's the customer who suffers most. Instead of the customer getting that special, unique piece they were envisioning, they, like the customer before and after them, end up getting a rough version of their idea mixed with whatever trendy style the artist is hooked on at the time. NYARTMAN feels this is unacceptable, especially when so much time and money is being invested only to be left with a permanent tattoo that falls short of your dreams.

NYARTMAN strongly believes the tattooing process is deeply personal as well as spiritual and it's not about the artist but about the customer. His goal is to make sure that every customer's vision is fully developed and accomplished... not his own. There is nothing better than having that unique customer who places few restrictions on the artist and allows him the freedom to do his own design; however, this is the rare individual. Skill and experience alone doesn't carry tattooists very far in New York City, one needs more. It's not simply skill and experience that has allowed NYARTMAN to persevere in this industry, but it is also his philosophy that the customer's vision comes first combined with the ability to insure that it is brought to life.

	Garrett is a licensed tattoo artist who has been trained by the NYC Department of Health as well as by the CDC in proper sterilization techniques and infectious diseases.
	You can trust that you will be worked on in a clean environment using only sterile equipment and of course single use needles and ink cups. Why? It is not only for your protection but for the artist's as well.
	Confidence that you will receive a tattoo beyond your expectation from an artist who is setting the standard in custom tattooing.
	As the customer you will be treated with the utmost respect in a relaxed, non-pretentious, private environment.
	Your project will receive 100% personal attention from the artist to insure your vision will be met.
	You will be tattooed by an award winning artist with over a decade of tattooing experience (not simply a tattooist whose worth is based on how many tattoos they have).

Can one who is under 18 get a tattoo?	Not by NYARTMAN! You MUST be at least 18 old with proper I.D. (drivers license or passport). It is against NYS Law to tattoo minors, with or without parental consent. Jeremy Garrett firmly believes in this law and was practicing it before tattooing was made legal in February 1997. No exceptions in regard to this matter, so please do not send email about it. It will be deleted.
Will it hurt?	Usually, depending on the individual. The most sensitive places tend to be on the inside of your arms and legs as well as the stomach area.
How much does it cost?	Every tattoo is different and the prices vary. There is a minimum charge of $100 that covers the basic setup of equipment, sterilization and most small, single color tattoos. All other designs will be charged an hourly rate.
Do I need to make an appointment?	Yes. NYARTMAN works by appointment only. It is recommended to set up a free consultation appointment to go over your piece and discuss the fee.
How long does it take?	Tattooing is a slow tedious process where there is no room for mistakes. There is no absolute time frame; however, most tattoos the size of a playing card can be done within a two hour session.
How long does it take to heal?	The surface of fresh tattoo with proper care usually takes only two weeks to heal. Sometimes the new tattoo may have a hazy look around the two week period, this will go away after about week. Also for some people there may be slight bruising or sensitivity around the general area of the tattoo, especially in sensitive areas and may take a few days longer for this to subside.
How should I take care of my tattoo?	A comprehensive care sheet will be provided to all new customers. Generally caring for a tattoo is easy. After first receiving a new tattoo one should keep the tattoo covered for about three hours. Then the bandage should be carefully removed and the area gently cleaned with soap and water. Immediately, a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment should be applied and reapplied as needed to keep the area from becoming infected or dry for two complete weeks. One should avoid swimming or immersing the tattoo in water for any prolonged period of time. New tattoos often itch and sometimes may develop a scab; however, it is imperative that one should refrain from scratching, rubbing or wearing anything that may continually rub the tattoo. All of these could damage the tattoo at best and scar the area at worst. The tattoo needs a two week undisturbed healing period to properly set. If the itching is unbearable ice can be applied to the area for relief. Exposing the tattoo to the sun without sunblock is never a good idea, no matter how old it is. The sun can and will slowly fade your tattoo.
Can you design my tattoo or do I have to bring in my own design?	Garrett specializes in custom work and greatly prefers it. It is his opinion that the whole tattooing process is a deeply personal experience and most work should be customized to some degree. That being said there are some designs that are either classic or special to the client and it is no problem at all to have them done in an exact fashion in order to meet your needs and expectations.
It is true that red ink causes an allergic reaction?	All inks can potentially cause allergic reactions depending on the person. It is probably true to say that warmer colors are usually responsible for this occurrence; however, it is extremely rare. The vast majority of tattooing inks are made from non-toxic pigments. NYARTMAN uses the highest quality, reputable, time tested inks available. If you are prone to allergic reactions, perhaps, consider starting with a very small tattoo to gauge your body's response . If you do develop an allergic reaction or any other type of infection, you should visit your doctor immediately. While allergic reactions to tattoo inks are very rare, if it happens and is left untreated it can damage the tattoo, lead to infection and or greatly increase the healing process. NYARTMAN's Tattoo Glossary