Ten years ago, Logan Square Tattoo opened its doors for the first time, welcoming what has now grown to be an impressive list of thousands of clients. Over the years, we’ve hosted guest artists from over ten countries around the world, and our resident artists are some of the best in the Midwest. Their work is innovative and thoughtful, regardless of style, genre, or origin. Our artists’ diverse styles and unique perspectives have shaped the identity of what Logan Square Tattoo is today.
What really makes the shop run so successfully is the lasting connection that we’ve formed with our clients—whether you’re dropping in spontaneously during your trip to Chicago, or you’re a lifelong repeat customer, we hold your stories and memories with us long after you’ve hopped off the table. We wouldn’t be able to do it without your trust and enthusiasm to have us permanently bring your ideas to life.
To celebrate, we’re throwing an anniversary party at the studio on September 28th from 12pm–7pm and we hope you’ll come by and hang with us! We have a stacked lineup of 15 past and present LST artists on deck to tattoo their flash designs. Bring your friends, bring your ma, let’s party!
A True Neighborhood Staple
LST’s founder, Gifford, wanted to build a shop that reflected the vibrancy of Logan Square’s scene in 2014. “When it opened, I was pretty boots-on-the-ground with the culture. I was involved with the eccentric younger crowd that you would see around. And there was also diversity in the neighborhood, so it was something that we tried to speak to,” he explains.
He goes on to share that he never wanted to name the shop something like “Future Teller Studio,” a nod to his own brand as an artist, but instead wanted to make it simply a cool, trusted, reliable place to get a slick tattoo and a meaningful experience.
Over the past ten years, we’ve watched Logan Square itself change and evolve, and it’s been incredible to grow up alongside our neighboring small businesses. Together, our sense of belonging and purpose within the community has really taken root. Even today, new shops, cafes, and creative spaces are still cropping up in our neck of the woods, and we’re proud to be huge supporters and collaborators—some of our favorite local spots are Cafe Mustache, Daisies, Steel Petal Press, Revolution Brewpub, CityLit Bookstore, Open Books, Logan 11, Sip of Hope, Disco City Records, Wolfbait & B-Girls, and New Wave Coffee.
We love going beyond people’s expectations of what a tattoo studio is and can be, and we really value contributing to our community in meaningful ways, from collaborating with Goethe Elementary’s STEAM program to speak with students about the art of tattooing, to participating in various neighborhood events. These partnerships not only allow us to give back but also to connect with our neighbors on a deeper level, sharing our love for art and creativity.
Shifting Focus
Logan Square Tattoo has hosted dozens of art exhibitions and local collaborations, integrating more than just tattoos within the walls of the shop.
Jams and Jammers was a pop-up event with East Room and Pipeworks Brewing Company that ran from 2015-2018, bringing people together for drinks, tattoos, and a hell of a good party.
LST has hosted tons of art shows throughout the years, featuring artists like Chad Edwards, Anjali Bahl, and Hevamech, and Nikki Kazmar, and has collaborated with local partners like Boiler Room and Brooklyn Boulder for their anniversary celebrations.
Gifford tattooed leather handbags at Rag and Bone back in 2018 as part of multi-city collaborative initiative with tattoo artists.
Things look a little different today—both literally and figuratively. We renovated the shop in 2021, expanding the space from a four-person studio into a home for 8 resident artists and up to 3 simultaneous guest artists. We’ve gravitated into a more settled and intentional orbit, too. A love for parties has now evolved into an effort to really ground ourselves in our work and support the growth and skill sets of our artists.
“It’s more of a focus on showing up with consistency—not feeling burnt out because I went too hard the week before or the month before,” Gifford shared. “The focus has to be more on what kind of systems are you setting up to make that stuff work for you, rather than having to white knuckle everything all the time. I just focus more on sustainability—how do you show up at your best every day?”
shop before / after renovation
It feels surreal to fathom the fact that we’ve been doing this for a whole decade, but we’re genuinely proud to have made it here together!
We’re stoked to honor the legacy of LST and solidify our reputation as Logan’s most trusted studio for world class tattoos and experiences. Thanks for making us who we are today! See you on September 28th at noon—we can’t wait to have you!
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