Kat Clarke from The Tattoo Gallery named state’s best artist for 2024

Hired as a front desk worker before building her way to the top, this College Park tattoo artist has been named the state’s best.

Leah Smith

less than 2 min read

July 6, 2024 - 5:10PM

The Messenger

Kat Clarke has been crowned SA’s best tattoo artist for 2024. Picture: Brett Hartwig

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She started designing tattoos for her friends while studying visual art at university – a degree started after a year of professional ballet – and now Kat Clarke has been named the state’s best.

“When it’s your clients raising their hands saying ‘we appreciate you, we think you’re the best’ it’s lovely,” the 32-year-old said.

“Each time I’m even in the top ten, I’m just so thankful … they’re just the most wonderful human beings.”

Ms Clarke said her “lucky” 10-year career in tattooing started after being hired to work the front desk of the Tattoo Gallery and overtime worked her way to an apprenticeship.

As the year progressed, and the move to College Park, Ms Clarke was offered the ownership of the studio, and has been loving it ever since.

“I love running the shop and being able to support the other artists here and giving them a space to create their own art.”

Now Ms Clarke is looking to keep her artists “above water” as the industry juggles the changing economic climate.

“Over covid a lot of new studios opened up, and there’s a saturation of amazing artists at the moment, so each artist is having to balance this rising cost of living and potential drop in clients,” she said.

“I’m really lucky, I have a solid client base … it’s more about making sure the others and my apprentices can survive.”