Help Non-Binary Tattoo Artist build a Studio

Hi friends, family, and community:

I am asking for your support to help me open up a new tattoo shop! I recently experienced a lot of upheaval when leaving my former studio, where the people I was working for were creating a space that felt unsafe, antagonistic, and disrespectful to both my own boundaries and those of my clients. While it was a huge challenge to leave, it has given me a lot of clarity on how I want to create my own space. It is a priority to me that my shop is a refuge: that my work is trauma-informed, communicative, and an open exchange of energy between client and artist.

I want to celebrate the rich tradition of tattooing that I have inherited from both my Filipino and Native Pacific Islander heritage: where it is more than just a service offered, or an artwork exchanged. It is a form of storytelling, a way of passing on a legacy. In the States, tattooing has also historically been a home for the people on the margins. I want to continue to expand upon that, and open a shop that operates with integrity.

It is very difficult for me to ask for help, but I am beginning to see the power a community holds when we show up for each other. Even a small donation, or sharing this fund with your friends, is a huge help! If you are interested in learning more about how I will be setting up shop in my new space, Rune Tattoo, and how you can get involved, please visit my Instagram @caseykontattoos. You can also visit my business partner Zoey’s page @skyeview_tattoo. She has been instrumental in this journey, and is aligned with me on cultivating an atmosphere that is safe, creative, and celebrates the feminine. There is more to this fundraiser than meets the eye, but this platform is limited in how I can thank you for your support.

Thank you for sticking by me on this journey! I am excited to see where it takes us next