Ink Haus Creative Studios’ Aleisha Gannon named South Australia’s top tattooist
We asked you to vote for the state’s top tattoo artist – but just who is SA’s best of the best? SEE THE WINNER AND TOP 10.
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From black and grey realism, to 3D nipples and make-up, Aleisha Gannon is an expert in tattooing techniques and these skills have seen her take out the title of South Australia’s ink master.
Ms Gannon – who operates out of her Hackney business Ink Haus Creative Studios – was voted SA’s best tattooist in the latest Messenger poll.
But it was a tight race to the finish – with less than 20 votes getting Aleisha over the line – out of hundreds of nominations.
Ms Gannon, who has been tattooing for almost 10 years – was not surprised it came down to a handful of votes.
“Art is so subjective – so I think when you’re trying to compare 25 different artists, it really comes down to what you personally like. Some people love colours, others love grey wash,” she said.
Ms Gannon said she was humbled to take out the win.
“A lot of the other artists are friends of mine and they’re incredible – beyond words amazing,” she said.
Ms Gannon was working as a special effects make-up artist on the Gold Coast when she made the move into ink work.
“Someone suggested I’d be really good at tattooing, so I decided I’d give it a crack,” she said.
“I’ve always been an artist – so it all just fitted into place.”
She and her partner Con Michael set up Ink Haus Creative Studios almost six years ago in Hackney.
Then, about four years ago, Ms Gannon started doing 3D nipple tattooing.
The idea to do the work stemmed from when she was on maternity leave and was on an online forum.
“There was a guy in America, and his whole studio does nipples and some Australian women said ‘why don’t we have this in Australia?’ So I thought ‘why can’t I do that’ and started researching to see if this was needed,” she said.
Uncovering a definite need, Ms Gannon went on to develop Pink Lotus Australia – a company dedicated to helping women get their nipples back.
The 3D nipple tattoos now make up about 50 per cent of her work.
Ms Gannon is soon to begin doing 3D nipple tattooing from Adelaide-based shop Grim Raptor once a month – to help meet that studio’s demand.
She said while tattooing has always been popular – with a three month waiting time fairly standard – studios are reporting being busier than ever post-COVID.
THE TOP 10 TATTOOISTS IN SA:
1. Aleisha Gannon, Ink Haus Creative Studios – Hackney
2. Kat Clarke, The Tattoo Gallery – College Park
3. Colin Woolford, Art n Soul – Prospect
4. Dylan Glacke, Inkinskin – Clovelly Park
5. Matthew ‘Bumer’ Joyce, Grim Raptor – Adelaide
6. Troy Slack, Sashiko – Mount Barker
7. Michael Milhench, Northern Point Tattoo – Salisbury
8. Lucille Brawl, Ink Obsession – Nuriootpa
9. Paul Briske, Infinite Worlds – Prospect
10. Jayden Pengilly, Sashiko – Mount Barker
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