At Dead Kat Tattoo, we are a team of talented artists with over 100 years of combined experience in art, tattooing, and body modification.

Our artists specialize in a wide range of styles, from bright, bold, colorful tattoos to detailed black and grey, fine-line artwork. We also have extensive experience with cover-ups, touch-ups, custom designs, and flash art. Whether you're coming in for your first tattoo, adding to a collection, restoring an older piece, or covering something you'd rather forget, our goal is to give you quality work in a professional and welcoming environment.

We take safety and quality seriously. We use high-quality vegan tattoo pigments along with single-use, stainless-steel, nickel-free needles and professional tattooing practices designed to protect both our artists and our clients.

But people often ask us one question:

“Why is it called Dead Kat Tattoo?”

The answer goes much deeper than simply choosing a name that sounded cool.

Dead Kat Tattoo began in August 2022, during a major turning point in our lives.

At the time, we had another tattoo studio in the A-frame building. Our landlord passed away, and his family wanted to sell the property. We understood their decision — they had an opportunity to sell it for a bigger and better price — but that meant we had to find a new home and begin another chapter.

The day I signed the lease on the building that would become Dead Kat Tattoo was also one of the hardest days of my life.

That same day, I had to identify one of my best friends, longtime coworkers, and mentors, James “Jim” Chappell, better known to many as Thrasher.

Jim and I had known and worked with each other for more than 20 years. Like any friendship lasting that long, there were ups and downs, disagreements, laughs, good times, bad times, and a whole lot of stories. But he was an important part of my life and my journey through the tattoo industry.

Jim had a history in Deep Ellum's tattoo scene during the 1990s, and anybody who knew him knew that he wasn't afraid to bump heads with people.

For years, we had an ongoing joke that one day we'd go back, open another tattoo studio, and call it Dead Kat Tattoo.

It was just one of those jokes between old friends that stuck around.

Then, on the exact same day I signed the lease for a new studio, Jim was gone.

Suddenly, the name wasn't just a joke anymore.

It became a tribute.

Naming the studio Dead Kat Tattoo seemed like the most fitting way to carry a piece of our friendship, our history, and his memory into the next chapter.

So when you walk through the doors of Dead Kat Tattoo, you're walking into something that wasn't created overnight.

Behind these walls are decades of experience, friendships, losses, lessons, mistakes, second chances, and thousands upon thousands of tattoos and piercings.

We've watched this industry change tremendously over the years, but one thing hasn't changed: our love for the art and the people who trust us to permanently put that art on their bodies.

Dead Kat Tattoo — Established August 2022.

In memory of James “Thrasher” Chappell.

Some businesses choose a name because it sounds good.

Ours has a story.

With over 100 years of combined experience, our team of artists are skilled in a wide range of styles and techniques. We have the expertise to bring your vision to life, no matter how complex or unique.

We use only the highest-quality materials and equipment to ensure that your tattoo or piercing is not only beautiful, but also safe and long-lasting. We stand behind our work and offer a satisfaction guarantee.