Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Don’t go here unless you want to support a studio with a racist owner. I heard him openly discuss with a client of color why he, a white man, couldn’t use the n word. It’s completely disrespectful and unacceptable. He openly supports the blue lives matter movement. Only come here if you want to support a fascist studio owner.
Let's talk about Chuck, shall we? Â Chuck is the man. Â I wanted a new tattoo and contacted Metamorph through their website to see if they were going to be open on the 4th of July. Â The owner, Derek, got back to me promptly and said that they technically weren't open, but Chuck would be happy to come in for me anyway. Â So it was just Chuck and me, and he's the NICEST. Â Super friendly and sweet (I was getting a "let it be" tattoo and he went in the back and put on some Beatles for me), put me at ease, offered me a Red Bull, and gave me a great new tattoo. Â I have two other small ones that were badly in need of a touch-up, so he did those too and quoted me a completely reasonable price. Â The whole experience was wonderful. Â The studio itself is really nice - very clean, cool atmosphere, felt totally at ease and taken-care-of. Â I'm definitely going back to Metamorph next time I'm bitten by the tattoo bug, which will probably be soon. Â Great experience.
Review Source:Wonderful people work there. I went in and got my first tattoo ever. Tech designed a gorgeous flower and stem artwork. Listen to what your tattoo artist says, they know best. Everyone was really friendly and helpful. Very clean place, had a comfortable atmosphere. Very decent prices! Would recommend this to anyone who wants devoted, inspiring, and talented tattoo artists.
Review Source:If you're in the windy city and want a tattoo, this is a great place to go. Â Solid artwork and artists are here. Â For a tourist in need of an itinerary, Â you can catch a Cubs game, eat some pizza, do some other cool Chicago cliches, then finish off with a tattoo. Â
Why, this shop might be very, very close to BEST IN THE WORLD!!!
This shop is awesome.
The shop is very clean and sanitary.
The staff is very professional and friendly. It's a great atmosphere.
I've gotten three tattoos there and I'm going in for my fourth one.
I had a loose idea of what I wanted to have done, so I went to see J = Jay Alvarez. He always has good inputs and suggestions and always comes up with a creative design.
You will be amazed at some of the work you'll see there, phenomenal talent.
Is no mystery why this is quickly becoming the premier shop in Chicago.
If anyone is looking for the best place in Chicago to get tattooed, Â then get there NOW!
Don't walk. Don't run. Don't drive get an aeroship... get a jet pack...
Whatever it takes... just get there FAST!
Metamorph Tattoo Studios is THE place to go in Chicago for beautiful and original works of art. The artwork offered and customized by the staff are truly works of art. The business is extremely clean, and stylish like a high end salon. Derek and his crew offer fantastic customer service and make you feel like family coming into the shop. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for the finest of work!
Review Source:I love this place, out of the blue I wanted a tattoo of my phone charm which is the catbus from my neighbor totoro. I showed it to one of the tattoo artist and looked at some pictures of it and drew me the cat in this position. I was pleased for the size and amount I paid for this.
Best place ever honestly, I might go back soon for a touch up or another tattoo.
I went here for my first tattoo i had shot zac an email describing what I wanted to get. We set up a date for me to come in and and talk more about the details and set up an appointment. This place does fantastic work every artist has a passion for that they do and are extreamly detailed.
Review Source:Was very pleased with this place.
Very friendly and clean place. Went in with a friend, we were both getting tattoos, got a slight discount on mine since we were both getting them and the artist stayed a little bit after closing just to make sure our art was done right (without charging any extra).
I would definitely return here for later tattoos.
i have a love/hate relationship with yelp and think it's usually taken too seriously, but my experience with getting tattooed by stephanie has finally convinced me to sign up and share...so listen up, y'all.
metamorph as a shop is clean, laid-back and generally really comfortable. the other guys working were nice and there were none of those pretentious vibes you feel in some other shops. i was worried about having to be tattooed right in front of that big window facing out onto milwaukee - the thought of people watching as if i'm a cake getting decorated at a grocery store was less than appealing. fortunately, stephanie has a nice little room downstairs.
i chose stephanie for her background in drawing and illustration, especially in floral/nature-inspired styles. after e-mailing and a consultation, the appointment was set up for only 2 or 3 weeks later. she sent me a draft of the design and i was super impressed with her ability to translate my vision onto paper; it was perfect. she even suggested details i would have never considered. the tattoo took about 4 hours, but she works quickly and was really easy to talk to.
i get compliments all the time on her level of detail - i'm considering making it a half-sleeve and wouldn't go to anyone else. if you're looking for a female artist that will care about designing a custom tattoo that you will love, go here!
This place is great. All of the tattooists were very attentive, friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The place itself was very clean and had a chill, non-chaotic atmosphere. My boyfriend wanted a Chicago-style hotdog on his inner bicep, so his best fit was Justin. He sketched the idea flawlessly and executed the tattoo the same. He did such an AMAZING job. The tattoo is literally perfectly done. I highly recommend this place, and more specifically this artist!!!!
Review Source:did not get a tattoo here, but my buddy did and it turned out well.
however, as a fan of tattoos i have to say what i look for is cleanliness and this place is very clean - emergency room clean - and the staff was quite friendly.
if i HAD gotten a tattoo, this review would probably be 5 stars.
I had been reviewing portfolios for artists that have a unique style for quite some time. I came across some so-so work, and some great work, but nothing in the particular look I was going for. That is until I stumbled on Stephanie Brown's portfolio online. Her line work and attention to detail was amazing. I was looking for a large bird for my shoulder and her examples are a mixture of organic and realistic. I knew I had to email her and see if she could meet. She got back to me in a couple of days and we set up a time to chat. I went to the appointment with a painting in hand (a painting I did) and examples from her portfolio that captivated me. I didn't want an exact copy of my painting, but the same sort of playful style with bright colors. Stephanie was really nice and listed to exactly what I was looking for. She asked me some questions, took notes on my answers and set up an appointment for a week later.
I went in yesterday for my tattoo with my good friend and we couldn't have been happier. Stephanie has a nice little private room downstairs, which was a welcome surprise. It's really nice to be able to relax and not feel like people are parading all around you. She had good music playing, and it was just a relaxed, comfortable setting. Prior to her bringing us down, she showed me her design and immediate I knew it was perfect. She completely nailed the design I was going for and no adjustments were needed on my end (though she was totally happy to change anything I wanted). Once she put the stencil on, she suggested a quick switch in flowers for a more equal balance. I appreciate her eye and suggestion. I totally agree with her, but was nervous so I'm not sure I would have caught it if she didn't suggest it.
She started tattooing and honestly, she was light handed and extremely quick. She's the perfect mix of talkative, but not too talkative. She's very laid back and responsive. It was nice to be able to joke around and not focus on the tattoo pain the whole time. My friend took pictures during the process to show me, and I was so excited seeing it come along. It was honestly much less painful then I had envisioned. (I only have one other tattoo, and it covers the top of my foot, so my view of tattoos are extremely painful). I was happy to talk the whole time and relax. Stephanie worked fast and accurately and was done right around the 2 hour mark, color and all. When I saw the tattoo I was just in awe. She's seriously extremely talented. I recommend anyone looking for a tattoo to check out her portfolio and see if your visions mix. It was a great experience with an amazing product and I couldn't be happier. I've already had a ton of compliments on the color and attention to detail.
I live down the street and took my 60+ father in for his first tat.
Derek, the owner, offered to do the tattoo himself and sat with my dad for quite a while looking at typography and styles. He drew up a couple of options based on what my dad liked and made him feel completely at ease during the whole process. By the end of it, my dad had a new friend - Derek even took him around and introduced him to everyone else in the shop that day. And now my dad keeps asking me to stop in and tell Derek how his tattoo is doing.
Awesome experience, incredible design/tat work and the price was not bad at all. Won't hesitate to go back.
I've been to Metamorph three times now for two separate tattoos, both done by the lovely Stephanie Brown. I'm always impressed with how clean and professional the place it, but more importantly, the artists are all really talented. I came to Stephanie with an idea for a tattoo, and she sent me a sketch which completely blew me away. It's been a really exciting process to get this gorgeous tattoo, and I get so many compliments on it. I live out of state so it's a bit of a trek to get to Metamorph, but I wouldn't trust anyone else. Thanks Stephanie!
Review Source:I chose Metamorph Tattoo Studios b/c it was recommended to me by someone at my work. And after reading their reviews on Yelp, I was even more sold! I went there & I was definitely nervous. Not to mention, when I am nervous I don't shut up. Ian was my artist & he was awesome! I got a tattoo on my left tailbone and it's exactly what I wanted. They really took the time to understand what I wanted, where I wanted it, the size I wanted, etc. Tattoos here start at $80 and can go up accordingly. Although, my friend's tattoo wasn't that big and they only charged her $60. It's very reasonable. It's been 3 weeks since I've had it & I still cannot get over how good of a job Ian did. The staff here is very nice & welcoming. I would recommend going to Metamorph and more so going with Ian as your artist. I definitely will be back!
Review Source:Just an update here: Â I emailed Metamorph a while back about getting my deposit in which Robin assured me would be returned since she cancelled the appointment on me. Â This was Metemorph's reply:
"
Deposits are non refundable as stated in the contract. The yelp review was not appreciated.
"
I'm SO glad I didn't get tattooed here. Â And I suggest you take your hard-earned money elsewhere; someplace with more talent and more professionalism.
Great place and great staff! Got my first tattoo here by Robin King aka- Solokill and I love it! I was referred to Metamorph Tattoo & Solokill by a coworker who has amazing tattoos. This was my first tattoo and I didn't have an exact design and she really did a great job of bringing my ideas to life. I'm extremely happy with my tattoo and would absolutely recommend Robin "Solokill" King and Metamorph Tattoo Studios to anyone looking to get work done!
Review Source:Just went here to get my first tattoo on Monday with a friend. We stopped at Speakeasy Tattoo first and were met with strange stares and a $80 minimum without asking what we were looking for.
When we walked into Metamorph we were met by a very friendly woman that works there who invited us in. We said we were interested in getting a tattoo and what the minimum would be, she said it usually $80 but it depends on what we were getting, that if it was really small maybe it could be less than $80. We were in so she immediately called the first person who was ready on over. Our tattoo artist was J - we explained that we both wanted something small on our wrists, I got an ampersand ( & ) and my friend got an F with a date between the spaces. He told us he could do them for $60 each even though the minimum was $80 so of course we were on board.
J was very outgoing and funny - he scrolled through endless typefaces with us to help us find what we were looking for. It was a really nice atmosphere and everyone who works there seems like they all get along and like their job.
My ampersand came out perfect as if it were literally printed onto my skin as did my friends.
I highly recommend them for word, letter or symbol tattoos since that is all I have experience with.
Also, just a neat tidbit, they informed us that the parlor used to be an old meat locker many years ago. There's still the old fridge doors and kitchen window. It's very cool looking inside with tucked away rooms.
I would take my business elsewhere,
Obviously they have one staple, talented artist, and that's where the 5-star ratings typically come from. Â For small, walk-in work, they'd probably do, but for big, consult pieces, I'd pass on all th other artists, especially for your first tattoo, problem there being if you haven't worked with them before, they're not interested particularly in working with you.
You (the reader) need to remember that you are going to have to live with the piece, and while the term "professional" gets thrown around a lot at this studio, that's only for their benefit - they want professional money, professional time, without treating you as if you are actually paying for "professional" work. Â The typical "too cool for school cause I got a tattoo" attitude I can do without - it's an elective, novelty thing.
A friend got me "gift cards" for a present, and now that I wouldn't trust them to give me a haircut, much less a full back piece, I regret having them had bought them - and the attitude of the owner was just childish. You give me no product, you get none of my money, that's how the actual non-tattoo world works.
If you want to feel like one of the cool kids going to the north side to get your work done for the two hours that you're there, Metamorph is the place, and you will pay for it. Â For everyone else, quality work can be done at many, many other places (especially if you're NOT seeing Robin)
I am writing to review the fine tattoo shop Metamorph Studios, and one of their artists in particular, Robin "Solokill" King.
I am a unique case, as I live in New Jersey and found Robin after doing Google Searches of Japanese traditional tattooing and the items I wanted to include in my tattoo. Â After looking through her portfolio online, I fell in love with her style, her talent, and e-mailed her with my idea. She wrote back right away and told me when she would be available and we discussed the possibility of completing all this work in a weekend. Though I live only 20 miles outside of NYC, I was willing to travel all the way to Chicago to get tattooed by someone with such talent, creativity and know-how. Â She answered all my questions; I gave my sketch deposit, and booked my appointment. Fast-forward 3 months... Robin e-mails me with her sketch and it is so perfect. She captured all my ideas and created a beautiful masterpiece. Â I wanted to make a few changes so she ended up doing 3 sketches for me and the last one was just right. Â She was very quick to respond to all my e-mails and she listened to all my concerns and ideas.
When my husband and I finally went out for our weekend, everyone in the shop was so nice and accommodating. Â Robin is so friendly, so professional, so committed to getting this piece done in the timeframe we had. Â I sat for 8 hours on Saturday and about 4 hours on Sunday. She keeps her workspace extremely clean (almost as clean as her lines, ha!). Robin created me a 1/4 Â sleeve that continues out onto my shoulder blade that is filled with movement, lighting, shadows, wind, and color that only a creative genius could have created. Â Robin really took care of me; not just by the act of tattooing me, but she calmed me down with her positive energy and always making sure I was comfortable, warm, eating/drinking enough, and happy.
Also, the shop is in a really cool area with great vegetarian food.
Would recommend.
I chose Metamorph for my first tattoo. It was recommended to me by Kevin (my hairdress at Fringe across the street. Great place!). I walked in and was greeted by a very friendly Michael Ferrell. I described what I was thinking and took a look at some of his stuff. He was very professional, friendly, and took care to make sure that I knew exactly what was going on since it was my first time.
I just got home from getting the first stage of the tattoo a few hours ago and I can't stop staring at it. I LOVE it. (See the Owl photo I posted) Michael did a great job and I can't wait to see what ideas he has for the color! I took a look at some of the other artists books as I was waiting and was really impressed with a lot of their stuff. I definitely recommend Metamorph, especially if you are a first timer like me!
I just finished a gorgeous custom piece with Robin / Solokill and I could not be happier! She was able to cover up some old, tired stars and turned them into incredible morning glories! She is very friendly and easy to talk to, but also very professional. She really knows her stuff and has been tattooing for years. Also, her spot is right in the window for people watching while you get your work done. It was an absolute pleasure working with her, and I can't wait to get another piece from her.
The shop in general is great. Everyone is super friendly, and the place is immaculately clean. I never got that snooty tattoo shop, too-cool-for-school vibe that's pretty prevalent in this city.
As for the negative review from Jaimee R, Robin is not just someone with a 'skill'. She's not going to pave your driveway or reformat your computer. She's an *artist* and is exceptional at what she does. Her style is unique & distinct. Come on, would you ask Picasso to do a Rembrandt? Also, she is clear with everyone that you get your sketch 48 hours in advance. During those last 48 hours, she worked hard with me to make sure I was getting a personalized piece and the attention I deserved.
If you want to throw $2000 at someone for a tattoo that isn't in their style lexicon, I'm sure you'll find many in the city who lack the integrity that she does. If you want Yosemite Sam or a tribal tramp stamp, there are many places that will cater to you. For real, true art etched into your skin by an artist with amazing abilities, go see Robin.
I have been seeing Robin here for over a year. SHE IS AMAZING, hands down. Robin pieced together my sleeve for me, working with some old work. I get so many compliments  on my work from here. She is always very professional and you will not find someone who has more passion for good looking tattoos.
The shop its self is clean. They rest of the staff are friendly. After years of going to tattoo shops with bad attitudes, its very refreshing to see people actually greeted when they walk in the door.
She's in high demand, she books out months in advance but it totally worth the wait!
Huge shout out to Caroline! I have 5 tattoos and wanted to get one covered up. Walked in yesterday without an appointment was paired with Caroline immediately. I showed her my old tattoo and gave her a picture of what I wanted. She drew a sketch and within 20 minutes I'm getting tatted.
I mentioned that this was my 5th so you'd think I'd be use to it, but I seem to forget that I have low blood sugar from time to time. Whenever I have a blood test down I must lay down. So, no more than 10 minutes into the process and I break out in a cold sweat. Caroline was such a sweetheart. She brought me several cups of water and a couple of glucose tablets and let me know there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Funny thing is, I wasn't embarrassed the same thing happened when I got my 4th tattoo. Caroline let me know that we could finish the outline and I could come back another day. No way Jose.....I wanted everything to be over that day.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE tattoos, but the process of getting tatted hurts me a lot. We talked most of the time which help get my mind off the fact that my arm was hurting.
I have a bunch of ear piercings (tragus, industrial, rook), and had been in to Metamorph to get new jewelry over the past few months. Micah suggested some great new custom pieces that are not only more comfortable than what I had before, but better looking.
So when I was ready for another piercing, I went to see Micah. He pierced my conch 5 weeks ago. It never hurt. It was never crusty and gross or swollen or irritated. It was the easiest piercing I've had, and if I had any real-estate left, I'd be back for more!
So, I somehow managed to make it to 23 without getting my ears pierced, and I decided this had to change. Mostly because I wanted to wear Pokeball earrings at SOME point in my life, and I knew it wouldn't happen without holes in my ears. Whatever. So me and a bro went wandering through Wicker, lookin' for a place for me to get some holes poked, and wandered past this place.
We checked out a few other shops, too, but Metamorph was the only place to actually greet us WHEN WE WALKED IN, and the piercer - Micah - was super-friendly to boot. He made a great first impression, so after going to check out one more place (Tatu Tattoo, where no one was anywhere near the counter and didn't bother coming out) and getting some froyo, we headed right on back.
Shit was CLEAN. I know, that's what you want and expect, but it's worth pointing out that they follow good cleanliness procedures. Micah is very professional and friendly, and we commiserated over how terrible the local crust punks are while he prepped everything. Good times.
Aftercare info was clear and thorough, AND I walked out with a nice little brochure about it, as well as the offer that I can come back or call if I've got any questions. So yeah! Great customer service, friendly folk, and it's clean? Sick. I haven't checked out any of their tattoo artist's portfolios, but the artists I (briefly) encountered in the waiting room at least seemed friendly, if nothin' else.
I'd recommend Micah if you need anything pierced, for sure. He's a cool guy, and was even understanding when I couldn't tip much.
Stephanie Brown did the amazing tattoo of the bird and flowers on my shoulder. Â I just got the color in about a week ago (pics to come soon on the website). Â Her artwork and attention to detail is phenomenal. Â So far this is the largest piece that I've had done so far. Â She is great to work with and made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Â I will be going back to finish the flowers going down my arm and a few various other tattoos. Â I highly recommend her to everyone.
Review Source:Great vibe. Amazing service. Excellent product.
I walked in on a Saturday with my good friend and his dad, who was in from out of town and wanted to get his first tattoo. Â We didn't exactly look like the normal tattoo crowd, whatever that means, and there were three of us showing up unannounced. This being the case, I didn't expect that I would have an opportunity to get a tattoo, myself. Â But when we walked in, we were each given great, individual service, and all ended up getting tattoos. Â My artist, Joe (awesome guy) collaborated with me, and drew up something way cooler than I had imagined. Â The owner, (Steve?) even came up and added his two cents (flipping the direction of the tattoo) which made a huge difference.
Oh, and while I was waiting for my tattoo to be drawn up, I just sat around and shot the bull with the other artists who were drawing up original designs and standing by for other walk-ins and appointments.
One more thing I'll say. Â I can't speak to all artists at Metamorph, but Joe really took a lot of ownership and pride in his work. He had a lot of enthusiasm, which was contagious, and he delivered an amazing tatt at a very fair price.
I really could not be happier with the experience, and if/when I get another tattoo, it will definitely be here.
I went today to get a really specific memorial tattoo. I wanted a pair of Chucks tied together by their laces, with the laces suggesting the initials of my friend who recently passed. I had actually done some research online, and settled on Caroline because her use of color is freaking phenomenal. When I got in for the appointment, I was presented with her initial idea for the design, and then she cleaned it up with my approval, and was really helpful as far as me not  accidentally ruining the design by replacing the stars with the year of my friend's birth because it's apparently a white supremest reference(WTF white supremests).
I got there at my scheduled appointment time (12:30) and left around 2:00. The tattoo is probably around 3x6 inches on my calf. It's absolutely gorgeous, and exactly what I wanted.
The most magical place on earth.....no not Disney...Metamorph Studios!!!
Let see I've been getting tattooed here by the AMAZING Derek Mullins, before it was technically up and running and I L-O-V-E i,it has a great vibe,amazing art, comfy seating, gorgeous people to look at, oh and amazing artists!!!!!
I've been tattooed by Derek for over six years now and I don't see an end in sight! He is currently turning my right arm into my own portable garden and it surpasses anything I could have ever imagined. He's done a full back piece based on Amy Brown fairies as well as all the little friends I have on my legs, side an left arm....
Everyone there seems so professional and serious about their art with out being pretentious or stuffy...
If I wasn't so darn faithful to my artist I would love to get something done by Robin,she does INCREDIBLE work!!!
I'm definitely a lifer at Metamoprh and if you check it out you will be too ;-)
What can I say....I just kinda er, um, well...I just LOVE Metamorph. I have a couple simple small tattoos from a shop I'll refrain from mentioning by name, that I hate.
For almost 10 years I toyed with the idea of having one in particular covered up. One day I went w/ my friend to Metamorph b/c he was having some work done on a portrait piece. While sitting in the waiting area I started flipping through the different portfolio books, and one in particular jumped out at me. Ridiculous, this artist had just some of the SICKEST work I'd ever seen on skin. I loved everything about all the work. So I asked my friend (who's pretty much a regular in there, and knows everybody) who's book it was and he introduced me to SoloKill (robin). And I haven't looked back since!!
Robin is hands down professional, supremely talented, and (one of the bonus's...at least in my mind) she works skillfully and quickly. I started talking to her about my idea for my back piece and she worked back and forth with me on getting a design set.
Its been over 2 years now since I've started going to Metamorph and I can happily say my whole back is covered, my calf from knee to sole of foot, and a few smaller things in between. What can I say, as you always hear about tattoo's, Can't just get one!
I have actually also been tattooed by a few other artists and they are all stellar artists, as well as professional.
I always feel at ease here. Its bright, clean, open, friendly, and also reasonable. I have sent all three of my cousins, several friends, and even my mom here!
(Robin has tattooed the same colorectal cancer awareness symbol on my 2 cousins and my mom...i've attached a photo).
And now, years later, I get so many comments on my tattoos, that I've gotten into the habit of stocking my wallet full of metamorph (and Solokill) business cards that I whip out the moment anyone stops me and says "that is a GREAT tattoo!"
:)
Came here for my first tattoo, Mike was amazing. He took my design and did a great job on my forearm. He took his time and was great to talk too while he did his magic. the shop is very clean and was impressed at the emergency kits closeby each station, I knew with that, the staff was fully prepared for anything that could go wrong. Â i got my family crest done and he did exactly at the picture i gave him looked. thanks so much and will be a regular customer
Review Source:Great place to get a tattoo!!
I've gotten two tattoos here, both by Robin. Â I came across her work at a tattoo convention and immediatly feel in love with how well she did flowers. Â (She does a huge variety of other work as well!) Â She gave me her email address and when I emailed her she got back to me very quickly. Â We set up an appointment to discuss the tattoo and when I came into the studio Robin was so nice to me and was very enthusiastic, suggesting things to make the tattoo better.
When I came back for my appointment I was super nervous because it was the biggest tattoo I've ever gotten, but Robin put me at ease. Â I've since gotten one more tattoo from her and am thrilled with them both (I get tons of compliments), and I am planning on going back to her for my next one, which will be much bigger. Â I want to take advantage of her amazing talent!
I would highly recommend this studio, especially Robin, but in looking through the other portfolios the other artists look very talented as well. Â Go to Metamorph!
I "accidentally" found this place a few years ago, and feel lucky that I did. Â I've been tattooed at a number of places, but Metamorph is truly the best shop I've ever been in.
Everyone here is an artist first, and a tattooist second. Â You won't find any flash on the walls that someone just traces on your arm. Every piece is custom and amazing. Â I've been tattooed here 5 times between Jake and Robin, and I'm nowhere close to being done.
I get a lot compliments on my tattoos, and I've noticed that nobody ever mentions my "other" ones, only the work I'd gotten here. Â I've referred many friends there and every one of them was amazed at the quality and service they received from the staff here.
If you want a real piece of art... stop in. Â I love this place.
I've been tattooed a bunch of places out of state,but never in my hometown. I knew that I'd have to find a great artist and a comfortable shop for my first Chicago tattoo.
After hearing friends talk, reading reviews online, Â and looking at tons of portfolios, I realized that Apryl Jenkins would totally be a good fit.
We met, she did a consultation, drew up a picture way better then I imagined and scheduled me. When I fianlly got it done everyone in the shop was really fun with good energy, very calm. Apryl did an AMAZING job on the tattoo and really made sure I felt comfortable the whole time.
I recommend this shop to everyone, no higher than thou attitudes and really great, clean work!
I looked around a lot when I went to get a tattoo last year. I ended up at Metamorph because they were too busy at Tatu Tatoo and at Delux. Metamorph was also pretty busy but Robyn had a random opening so there I was. I haven't looked back since last year.
So far I've had two tattoos from Metamorph. One with Robyn and one with Kevin (getting my third next week with Apryl) and two piercings with Micah .
Tattoos
The key thing I feel this need to stress about Metamorph is that their artists are exactly that, artists. Amazing artists, even their apprentices have amazing portfolios. You can tell everyone who works here prides themselves in their abilities as an artist, which is the key foundation (in my eyes) of a good tattoo artist.
You aren't going to walk into Metamorph and be able to pick from sheets and sheets of replicated stencils that anyone and their mother can get. You can, for sure, bring in a photo or a print out of something you want and get that OR you can come in with just idea of what you what and the folks at Metamorph will work with you. Sure, you might have to wait a few hours.. or a few days, but it is worth it for the quality of the work you will get at Metamorph.
Not to mention that this place is clean, the people who work here are fun and excited to do their jobs and the prices are competitive.
Piercing
Micah did both my lip and my septum and both came out great. Micah is experienced and good at what he does which put me at ease, especially when it came to my septum which I had been putting off for years because I am a wuss and afraid of the pain. My favorite thing is that he doesn't use clamps, which for me cause more pain than the actual piercing. Â Remember, when it comes to price and a piercing: you get what you pay for, but you should never have to pay too much.
Metamorph is a great place. I plan on sticking with them for the long haul.
Made an appointment with Jake Kearney, gave him my design idea and he executed it with perfection. Â The studio itself is bright, clean and has the traditional feel of a tattoo shop. Â I recommend this place to anyone looking for quality artists, especially Jacob. Â I am extremely satisfied!
Review Source:i will recommend this place 110%. My younger brother got a custom tattoo done at Metamorph about 2 weeks ago. I have been wanting to finish my half sleeve tattoo for quit some time, so i decided to check it out. From the moment i walked in the staff was very friendly and chill. I told them what i wanted, Mike (my tattoo artist) was very good in listening to what i wanted, he didn't start until i was 110% i liked the design. The actual session took 4.5 hours or so with breaks in between. When he was finished i was amazed on how great it looked. I am heading back next week to finish it off. GREAT SHOP!
Review Source:I got my 3rd tattoo here a few years back and I couldn't be happier. Â I actually stumbled in here by accident on an afternoon...looked through some porfolios and found out how the whole process works. Â What I really love about this shop is the lack of Flash...tattoos should be completely customized...why put something on your body that everyone else has??
My artist was Rebecca although I think she has since moved. Â But I love the process - we met, I brought some pictures and concepts...she designed something and I came back to check it out...she tweaked it until it was exactly what I wanted then I made my appointment to get the work done. Â I think the price I paid was fair given the time it took and the custom design.
As for the artists...study their portfolios carefully and make sure choose someone that has the style that you are looking for. Â (i.e. if all their tats are bio-hazard...maybe you shouldn't ask them to do a portrait...just a thought)
I back this place 100%.
(If you don't want to feel "hurried" during your session, try booking an actual appointment and not just dropping in right before they close. The people working here have lives outside of the shop, keep this in mind and you won't feel you've been "treated like meat")
the 2 times i've been in here i've never felt like i've been given attitude. (but then again, i have a high tolerance for assholes.) the people working on the day i got tattooed were all very chill/friendly. and since there are a few female artists here, you don't feel like it's some sort of boy's club.
apryl is the one who did my tattoo and i'll be going back to her for sure. she said to plan on the appointment taking between 2-4 hours, and it took exactly 2. she worked at a great pace and was really good about taking little breaks so i could stretch/move/shake my arm for the sake of blood circulation.
the location is sweet, but parking can be a pain in the you-know-what. there's metered street parking but i think there's a 2 hour limit so avoid it unless you're just going in to get something small. side streets that don't require permits are your best bet.
I always used to pass this shop every time I got to wicker park for shopping and stuff. It's noticeable now because they have a big glass window and you can see people getting inked in the front. I walked in because I wanted Chicago (the band logo) tatted on my forearm. The first person I talked to was April. She said I could probably come in the next day and it would be about $150-$200 if I didn't have an artist in mind. So I did and Brian was available. He was pretty cool and drew it up, and got me inked. It took only about 45 minutes and he only charged $100... sweet. He did a superb job, looks awesome. I heard a lot of horror stories/ mixed reviews from people going to the tattoo factory and jade dragon so I would recommend these guys because they're nice, unpretentious, and chill.
Review Source:I'm no expert on tattoo parlors, but I wasted a week of my life shopping to at least 5 of the "top" places in Chicago that people have recommended to me. I think I can consider myself, at least not an idiot.
I dropped off some samples and my artist (Kevin) contacted me back in less than a week with some sketches. A lot of talent and you could tell he put time and effort into it. My design was big and simple and still he gave a lot of dedication to it. Very clean and crisp. Guarantee's his work. Amazing work ethic. First time I've ever been to a parlor with customer service?!?
Place is clean, friendly neighborhood place. I see people coming in just to hang out. I didn't over pay, but I sure tipped my artist like I was in Miami or LA.
GREAT Place. Â The staff was fantastic and very sweet with NO attitude.
SoloKill (aka Robin) did my work and she was fantastic. Â She took her time and worked out a better design that what I brought in taking into account the old tattoo she was covering up and the lines of my arm/shoulder.
It came out so wonderfully and was really reasonably priced.
Highly recommend both the studio and Robin!
I FAINTED!!!! Yea, I really did. Â It was not anyone's fault, it just happened!!!
Everyone was so helpful and understanding of my situation. Â They helped me recover by giving me pop and candy.
I guess the chair was uncomfortable. Â Anyways, Jerome (is the person who did my tattoo) helped me to find a nice chair and a comfortable position. Â He is an awesome tattoo artist. Â Â I am so happy with the finished tattoo that I highly recommend him to everyone.
Went in the shop w/ and idea I wanted done. Â Everyone I talked to seemed excited about it. Â The guy told me to leave my number and he will draw up something for me.
5 days later I didn't hear from anyone, so I called him up.
"Bro, I haven't done anything yet, im just so swamped"
Now I can understand being busy, but how come you cant call me back to let me know? Â Is this not a place of business? Â
He went on to tell me how everyone else in the shop is too busy to do anything as well. Â I told him that I understood and had no problem waiting, but he pretty much told me they cant help me out.
Just unprofessional
This little tattoo shop in Bucktown is barely noticeable from the street. If you're walking down Milwaukee and you happen to see a little red blinking "Tattoo" sign above a door - you're there. Don't worry, they're working on expanding...And that is a VERY good thing.
I walked into Metamorph about one year ago in search of finding an artist to rework a piece that was done on my arm. If you do your research into my past reviews, you'll know exactly what piece I'm talking about and exactly where I had it done originally. Anywho. When I first walked in, I met with an artist by the name of Apryl and explained to her what I had envisioned. She took one look at my arm and told me that she'd have no problem fixing it. It took me a full year of meeting with various tattoo artists and visiting various shops to finally make my decision - and I ended up right back at Metamorph.
Fast forward nearly one full year (to now) and there I was, walking back into the shop. The first person that I happened to see as I walked in was Apryl, the artist that I had spoken to pretty much a year ago. Before I even lifted up my shirt to show her my arm, she made it totally obvious that she remembered precisely who I was. Bonus points right there. We scheduled my first session ... I was totally amped.
Unfortunately I had to miss the first appointment that we had scheduled due to a death in the family but, after talking to Apryl on the phone, she was happy to reschedule for the following week...Bonus points again.
I walked into the shop the day of my first session (which was actually last week), signed my papers, watched Apryl setup her station and sat down in the chair across from her. She literally took one look at my arm, did a little bit of drawing on it with a marker and started tattooing.
I will tell you, no doubt, that this girl has an incredible talent and Metamorph is damn lucky to have her tattooing there.
She redid a tattoo that originally took four hours to complete in just about two. She tattoos fast and incredibly accurate. All of my lines are perfect. And I mean PERFECT. The next step is some color...We're both excited about that.
If you're looking to get tattooed in the city, I (very obviously based upon this review) highly recommend Apryl over at Metamorph. The studio is incredibly clean, beautifully painted and isn't full of shitty and irritating artists who have egos bigger than Jesus.
She's damn good and young which, in this city, is a great thing. Before you know it, and mark my words when I say this, she'll be known as one of the best female artists in this city...Provided that she doesn't move. That would be horrible.
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