Matty Esswein Tattoos

It was so much fun getting tattooed by Matty! I picked one of his flash pieces and he was open to discussing changing some of the color, and offered really helpful guidance. I love how it turned out. He has great attention to detail and took his time to make sure the finished product was perfect. All around a solid tattoo experience and I would like to get another from him! Highly recommend.

Matty tattooed me for the first time over two years ago at Curio and I can't recommend him enough. From my initial outreach, his tattoo work (attached) and the shop he and his wife Amy (also an amazing tattooer) manage, every part of my experience with Matty was extremely positive. Matty works quick, has awesome original designs and his tattoos are super clean. It's a crime I only have one tattoo from him, but planning on changing that soon. If you want to look a little cooler in front of your friends, get a Matty tattoo. :)

Matty is a very cool guy, and insanely talented. He’s so conscientious and exacting in his designs, and highly original—one of those tattooists who’s pushing the bounds of the art form into the future. I have never had an artist work so hard to get the placement just right on the body. Such dedication to craft! There are a lot of great tattooists in Richmond but Matty is on his own level of great! Highly recommended!

Where to begin?! Oh, sure, at the beginning, I suppose you'll say. Fine, fine. I found Matty in a slightly disused lavatory, behind a locked door with a sign on, reading "beware of the leopard". Then he moved to "The Curio" and was much easier to find. I requested first a test of his talent: a filled in circle; a comma; a potato. Not only were this simple images quickly accomplished, they are impressively done. The circle and comma (put together to make a semi colon) are perfectly rounded. The potato is distinguished and concise, with a bit of love and style (everyone wonders at it: "is that... a potato?" they ask incredulously. There's no way this guy got a potato on his left ankle. That's silly.) Then I brought him one of my own drawings. He assessed it and quickly went to work. 45 painful minutes passed (upper torso tattoos are quite barely bearable) and I was graced with more symmetrical perfection! I didn't stop there. I requested a Matty original. I desired a figure posed in a certain way, outfitted in a certain style. What I received was unexpected and wonderful. Everyone who has seen it has been wowed. I will require more images from this wonderful artist, this kind human, and you would do well to sit with him on your first visit to consult on what you would like to carry with you on your journey. Then make an appointment. Then give him money. PAY ARTISTS.

Very talented artist, easy and accommodating to work with. Makes you feel comfortable and is always kind. He's done all 5 of my tattoos and they look amazing! Highly recommend 👌 He also has a cool studio and good music 🎶