Erica is amazing. I've been getting tattooed by her for the last 5 years and it is her incredible talent and professionalism that will keep me coming back for years to come. From the consult to the final wrap, Erica is so easy to work with. She addresses all my questions and concerns, she works to make me as comfortable as possible during each session, and is so fun to talk to that she has made the actual act of getting tattooed more enjoyable. The overall atmosphere of Blue Ox Tattoo is what sets itself apart from any tattoo shop I've been to in Portland. From the artists to the shop manager, everyone at Blue Ox is friendly and supportive. You walk in and immediately feel included and seen. Whether it's calling in and asking Kelly a ton of questions, to having Mikal or Kati come sneak at your work, they are all so kind. Tattoo artist can be intimidating, but I have never felt more relaxed around the Blue Ox crew. Most importantly, their attention to detail and protocol, during covid, made me feel so safe when visiting the shop. read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I saw Sara (aka HowdyPardy) for an arch tattoo on both feet. Not only is Sara absolutely hilarious, but she set expectations up front so I understood the risks of the location I wanted my tattoos. She is incredibly skilled and made the process a breeze. One of my tattoos had some fall out and she was more than willing to help with touch up. read more

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This place, amazing. The people, amazing. You automatically get a welcomed feeling when you step through the doors. They are taking every precaution there is for COVID. I want to just jump and give huge kudos to Kati. She has been easy to communicate with, via email with details of my tattoo and, in general, for what is expected once I arrive. I'm still a newbie when it comes to tattoos, this being my 3rd and most personal one to date. She embodied my beloved Charles so well. The precision and colors she chose were on point. The session took a few hours to do and there weren't any awkward moments. Conversation went smoothly and I was worried because I'm awkward AF with small talk. I even asked my Fiancé what I should do if it was too quiet. She also made sure that the tattoo was aligned to my wrist AND it perfectly aligned to my other tattoo on my other arm. Which is quite satisfying to look at lol Her banter with her teammates, which I honestly felt like they were more of a family, was so comforting. AND she did a great job on coloring in my older tattoo which now brings it to life. I would 1000% recommend this place. Please check her out and the shop in general if you're looking for a specific piece to get! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Kate did amazing! Beloved portrait of my Charles. - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

So I made an appointment to get a tattoo with Mikal and it's amazing. The artists there are really fantastic at what they do and take pride in their work. So inside has a relaxing laidback atmosphere to it. read more

I've gotten a full sleeve on one arm and a shoulder cap on the other arm from Erica Finley at Blue Ox. I am beyond pleased with the results, and I get compliments wherever I go. I've never seen a tattoo by Erica that I didn't like, so I pretty much let her do whatever she wanted - but arriving at what to do was so effortless. Her line work is bold and precise, and she has a way of designing animals so that they're unique illustrations that come to life. Check her out on Instagram: @eekpdx read more

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Some things are worth the wait. I could not be happier with my new artwork. Covid protections galore at Blue Ox. The shop was very chill and temp checks, sanitizer and masks for everyone. Erica is amazing. Her line work and the fine details are mesmerizing. I am not sure what is next for me in the ink category - but I have a dream tattoo on my arm now. So happy. read more

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I love Blue Ox tattoo. Not only is Mikal, the owner, an amazing artist, other folks there are just super sweet and friendly. The shop is in a very easy to access location in North Kensington and has a really cool, inclusive vibe. I will never go anywhere else. read more

I woke up this morning and felt like getting a tattoo, so I googled tattoo shops & this one kept popping up so I was like " okay I'm gonna give them a call & see if they take me. " so I got squeezed in same day & I was put with Liana. Super kind & attentive to the theme I was going for. Everyone in the shop was very welcoming! My first time in Portland for work & I would definitely come back again to be tattooed here. read more

Kati Green is absolutely amazing!! I had a tattoo done a few years ago and grew to dislike it a little bit. I wanted to keep it, but add more to it so it wasn't so boring. She was super easy to talk to and understood exactly what I envisioned. Couldn't be happier with it. She was also kind enough to touch up my other tattoo as well. read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Originally was just a simple line design of a wave, tree, and mountain. She added more details to them. - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I got tattooed by Frankie Oakes, and she was so amazing! i was nervous about the having my hip done because it's pretty painful, but she was so calm and sweet the whole time it was no problem. the line work was beautiful and i couldn't have asked for more! Love Frankie and love my new tattoo! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - hip tattoo by Frankie Oakes - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The Shop. The People. The Tattoos. My first tattoo at Blue Ox was the most pleasant tattoo experience I've ever had. Kati is soo great. So great in fact that I came back for a second. It's amazing how friendly someone can be when you ask them to jab a needle a thousand times into the side of your foot. At Blue Ox, they are the friendliest. So friendly in fact I came back for a third. Cassidy was soo cool. And her painless tattoo method works. I didn't feel a thing until she started tattooing. Not only does she craft a tattoo that hits all the feels, but she is the ultimate DJ who finds the best tracks. Three tattoos at one shop you ask?! Yes. This Shop. These People. Their Tattoos. Be brave and spin the wheel because that's what I'm doing the next time. read more

Erica Finley ROCKS MY SOCKS!!! No seriously - I sat down with her to discuss an odd idea that I had for a full sleeve that involved two landscapes mirroring each other. I gave her the rough idea, but then insisted that she put her artistic twist on it to make it her own. I love her style and think that she is an amazing artist, so I was fairly certain that she'd knock it out of the park. Well.... she absolutely did!! It turned out even more incredible than I could have ever imagined and I can honestly say that I'm totally in love with it. I get hammered with compliments and questions about it all the time, which only further attests to the quality, and ultimately her ability as a tattoo artist. I'm already dreaming up the next one for her to do. GO SEE HER! read more

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I was really apprehensive to get a tattoo. I'd had a terrible experience with an artist at a previous shop and didn't think I wanted to get anymore work done afterwards. A couple years later, I got up the courage to get some more ink again and came across Kati Greens page. The consultation went well and she immediately gave me really good vibes and made me feel comfortable! A month later, I walked out with a beautiful sternum tattoo and was very satisfied! Kati is an amazing artist and she is a very nice person! I look forward to coming back to get more ink in the next couple months and I won't be going anywhere else! This place is awesome! PS: I love your guys unicorn themed bathroom! read more

I've had 2 incredible tattoos @Blue Ox with Mikal. The shop is super cool, very clean and they follow the guidelines regarding COVID. I got an owl tattoo and then came back for a lemur/lychees tattoo--the details in both the tattoo's is amazing. I'll definitely be back for more. Both my tattoos healed remarkably fast. read more

Stopped in here as we were passing through Portland on a road trip so I thought it'd be good to hit all of the road trip clichés I could hit. ;) I figured if I was finally going to get the tattoo I've been wanting, Portland was the place to do it. This was my very first tattoo & I was honestly a little nervous, not sure what to expect. I did some calling around on a Saturday morning to see if a walk-in was at all possible. We needed to roll out the next day so that day was ideal. The gal I spoke to on the phone was super nice & prompt about calling me back after checking with Jessica about a walk-in appt. I was able to get in at 5:00 that evening, which was perfect. HOOO YEAH. All of the ladies in this shop were chill AF, friendly & fun to be around. The shop itself is clean, super cute & the bathroom is full of unicorn decor. I truly felt like a unicorn among unicorns. Jessica made my first tattoo a BREEZE. It was a small, geometric, line-drawing so it was over before I knew it. Since I had some first-timer butterflies going into it, I was beyond happy with how quick, easy & awesome my experience was. Jessica was very thorough with after-care instructions & 1 week later, it's healing beautifully. I can totally see how people get addicted to tattoos now & if I'm ever back in Portland, this is the place I'll be going to! Thank you so much, ladies! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Oh, this old thing? NBD. - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My lady and I called up Blue Ox around noon on a Saturday and got in to see Dylan Fram at 3 pm. Tell you what, from the first step in the door to the last handshake after we were finished, Dylan and the whole crew at Blue Ox treated us like family and Mr. Fram did an impeccable job on both our tattoos. The process took a while, which is something I look for in a tattoo parlor; I hate feeling rushed when doing shit so important and permanent. No worries here. Dylan drew up the designs we brought in and modified a few things to improve upon the ideas. Then he went to work. Let's just say the man's nickname should be Sterile Stanley. I'm talking clean as a whistle, unbelievably professional and such a sweet dude, it was a pleasure spending a few hours with him. And one hell of an artist too. I think it's worth it to say that the other tattooers at Blue Ox were all friendly as hell and it shows that this place has a lot of love inside. 100% will be back for more tattoos. Many thanks to Dylan Fram and all the others for making these tattoos more than just the ink. See y'all soon! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Dylan Fram is the jam!!! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Dylan Fram is amazing. I came in with three images and asked him to make them work together. I love his design and his color is so vibrant. Getting ready to have more work done by him. read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Stellar work by Dylan Fram at Blue Ox. - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Frankie was great to work with. I can't recommend her enough!! She's professional, talented, and does excellent work with a very light touch. read more

I haven't yet gotten a tattoo here... but my consultation was fantastic! Due to a health condition, I am looking for an artist that will work with me and talking to Frankie put me at ease. She is super friendly and so easy to talk to. When I am ready to make the leap, I hope she is still there. I felt really comfortable in her presence! ... update to come... THANK YOU! read more

I had 2 tattoos done by Kati Green at blue ox. She was wonderful, working with me to design tattoos that I loved and am super happy with. Clean shop, good prices, fun people, and talented artists. Will definitely be coming back to work on my sleeve with her! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Back of arm tattoo by Kati Green - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I got my first tattoo from Jessica, and she was so nice, friendly and helpful!! Since it was my first time, I was a bit nervous about what it would be like and how it would feel, but she made me feel comfortable and at ease during the whole process. Plus, she gave me a beautiful flower tattoo!! The shop is really clean and cute as well, and they might have my favorite bathroom decorations I have ever seen -- unicorns! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - My first tattoo by Jessica at Blue Ox! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I have been seeing Dylan Fram at Blue Ox for the past 10 years. I have multiple tattoos by Dylan, some by my suggestion, many custom tattoos, and some that are exclusively Dylan's designs. I have never been unhappy with any of his work. He has great ideas that develop into amazing tattoos. He is gentle and perfectionistic in his work which are qualities you want in an artist. Plus, he is incredibly talented. For your first tattoo, last tattoo and every one in between, go see Dylan. He is the consummate professional. I highly recommend him. read more

I walked in with 2 of my girlfriends. Not only did they squeeze us in their busy schedule but stayed open late for my friends who are leaving town tomorrow. The artist Aaron Morris was so kind and professional, not to mention talented. I will definitely be visiting this shop again for another tattoo. read more

Fantastic place, amazing decor, bathroom exceeds the minimum number of unicorn pieces of art. Kati Greene helped me get my first tattoo in almost a half decade (major panic attack last time I got one turned me off for a long time). Her line art is perfect and she came up with an amazing design based off what I gave her. Quick, easy, and even though it was on the ribs, one of the best tattooing experiences I've ever had. For someone who was afraid to ever get a tattoo again, I'm already planning my next one. I will be back to Blue Ox as soon as an idea formulates, and you better damn well believe I will be asking for Kati again. read more

Where to begin about the fabulous Kati Green!!! I walked in with my idea of a light colored rose tattoo, armed with photographs of ideas for what I was looking for. She welcomed me in and really listened to what I was saying. This was not her traditional style tattoo, but she did not shy from the challenge of experimenting with something new. Instead, I found a true artist who did research and prepared herself with biological images of rose parts and thorough color drawings to show me exactly what was going to be inked on my arm. This is my seventh tattoo, but first one with color in it and I was a bit nervous. The few hours spent with her during the tattoo were filled with fun and easy conversation. Kati is so go with the flow and really makes sure you feel comfortable. She is an amazing and well informed tattoo artist and I can't wait to go back to her with my next set of ideas read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Rose tattoo by the AMAZING Kati Green! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I loved this place and I would definitely return! I called Blue Ox the day I wanted the tattoo with no prior consultation or anything. I thought, if they can't get me in its not meant to be. I had done some research before and did some more the day of. I found this shop and it was settled. I called when the shop opened and Kati said she could fit me in later. I was excited, we emailed about what I wanted. Within a couple hours she was ready. She was flexible and willing to work with me. My first tattoo, I was nervous. The place is in a very nice area and it looks fantastic inside. VERY CLEAN and NOT like a divey, sketchy, possible hep joint. All the girls were very nice and welcoming. I have been in or talked to other tattoo artists that have been pricks! They seem like their in their own little asshole club, BUT these guys made me feel very comfortable! Which was a huge plus, especially because I came in alone. Bottom line, I love Kati's work and I'm so happy I came in. I like that she's an artist first and foremost and that she didn't become a tattoo artist for the wrong reasons. You would be happy with any art she puts on you or with anything coming out of the shop. Prices seem very reasonable. I will definitely revisit! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - "they shine in darkness" in Latin. This is after a couple days, looks great! Healing nicely. - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I came here / specifically to Mikal for a cover up piece. She turned a 15-year old tattoo that was faded and frankly ugly into a beautiful rose! She does amazing work! I was extremely nervous going into the session but she kept me calm and ensured I was comfortable the whole time. I can't thank her enough - I will be back! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Beautiful cover up done by the one and only Mikal! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Clean, friendly and fantastic artists. I worked with Mikal Gilmore over three sessions. I came in with an art piece and it was a bit wonky. Mikal took it and kept the idea and ran with it. The results were fantastic!! This was my first color piece, my other two are black work. I am so pleased with the color, the art and the service. 100% recommend Blue Ox or New Rose tattoo read more

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I saw Leslie Hero here. I'd first seen her at New Rose Tattoo, but I followed her to Blue Ox. First of all, Leslie is amazing. She snazzed up an old tattoo of mine this time, and made it look a billion times better. I have a history of terrible, painful, disgusting skin reactions to tattoos, so we discussed this in-depth, she listened to me, and she used a light touch. Both tattoos she's done healed perfectly. She's a miracle. Plus, she is really kind and funny. The shop is gorgeous. I love the decor. It is kooky and soothing, and everyone there is full of smiles. All women, I think. I'll be back many times. I highly recommend this place. read more

I am gonna start with saying that Mikal is f#@$ing amazing. I could leave it at that but let me explain why he's so f#@$ing amazing. I moved to Portland a year ago from Alaska. I was itching for a new tattoo with an idea I've had for over two years. I have had two other tattoos done in Oregon but I needed someone else for this job. Gosh I wish I had found Mikal sooner, but it'll be okay! So I emailed Mikal a very straight forward email about my idea and how there was no room for "artist interpretation". I was slightly scared he wouldn't email me back but I needed to know that he understood my wants. Not just another body to put their personal art on. Mikal emailed me back and explained that he could do what I was asking and would love to work with me. A week later I came in for the consultation. He was straight forward with me and told me what would work and what wouldn't (I want my tattoo artist to be just like this). But with that he was sweet and totally friendly. I felt like I would be in good hands. I made the official appointment and saw him a month later. He allowed my husband to come back with me and talked with the both of us. He was understanding and made me feel at ease the whole appointment. He never did anything without asking, always checked in with me, and never made me feel bad for stating what I wanted. I've never had a better tattoo experience like I had with Mikal. We are working on a full arm tattoo and this was just the first session. I have my second session set up and I can not wait to go back. I know he will make this tattoo everything I dreamed it to me. It is 4 weeks later and it has healed perfectly. I fall more in love with it every day and can not wait to see the whole end product. Aside from Mikal, the shop is clean but welcoming. It's warm feeling but you can tell it's got medical grade items. The other people in the studio were nice and accommodating. I didn't feel like a fish out of water, which I normally do in tattoo shops. I am no stranger to tattoos (this being my 9th) but sometimes I feel judged for not fitting the "tattoo" profile, and here I didn't! Again, I can't wait to come back. I've already got my brother-in-law and mother wanting to come get their tattoos done with Mikal too! read more

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Sara was awesome! She took my crappy drawing and make it presentable. Went in for a few minutes to talk, and had an appointment the next weekend. Reasonable pricing, a nice chill experience, and exactly what I wanted in my tattoo. Other tattoo shops booked out for months? Check this place out, because for now, it isn't! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - My (half) Filipino pride tattoo, by Sara! - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Sarah Carr Rules! She did an awesome wolf head on my calf and its perfect. Super clean and exquisitely stylized. Plus, she's the nicest person you'll ever meet(: RECOMMENDED read more

love this place to get a wonderful piece of art on you. Sarah Carr is so kind and funny and helped me out on a custom project and transformed my idea into a beautiful masterpiece! she has an eye for color and style. really dig her and this whole studio! totally worth the hour commute from my house. definitely recommend coming here read more

My best friend and I ended up here after stopping at the sister shop, the new rose. The new rose called the blue ocean and asked if they could take us. They could so we drove up to north Portland and met Jessica. This was both of our first times, and while we got small tattoos Jessica was understanding and patient with us and our nerves. She took great care of us and we love the work. If I lived close I would definitely be back!! Thank you Jessica!! read more

Blue Ox Tattoo had a great, professional atmosphere. The staff felt very welcoming and were able to help you with your requests. My tattooist, Dylan, did a great job on my forearm tatt and will definitely go back to complete my sleeve. read more

Blue Ox Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I recently had a small coverup done with Leslie. Despite being booked until November, she did her best to squeeze me in since I the work was relatively small. I'm so happy with the results. Her technique was great, didn't over knead the work and we were done in about an hour. We worked closely in the days leading up to make sure the design was just right. Leslie took awesome direction and came up with a really fantastic design. I look forward to working with her (and maybe others) at Blue Ox in the future! read more

Blue Ox has that wonderful ambiance combining professionalism, creative talent, and a family-warmth... resulting in a very pleasant place to visit and get a tattoo. I was there to have a Unalome tattooed on my chest. A very simple straight-forward design and Jessica treated it and me as if this was the big event of the day. Super care in getting the design placed exactly correctly, placing the ink, and in-depth explanation of my aftercare process. Yes, Jessica will be my artist of choice for my next tattoo! read more

Kind, clean, professional and fun! Wonderful experience. Front desk person was friendly and informative, helped us immediately upon walking in. Kati Green, the artist, is very talented, I'm extremely happy with my floral tattoo, the style is beautiful! I would definitely return. Thank you so much! read more

I came to Blue Ox after first stopping in at their sister shop, Red Rose. I wanted to get a piece done that I have been thinking about for years and today I spontaneously decided it was time. Red Rose did not have the time to grant my wish of getting it done right away, but I was pleased when they were helpful about checking availability at Blue Ox. I happily made the trek to the other side of town and I was definitely not disappointed with Dylan's work. I came in with an idea and he made it come to life, better than I ever could have imagined. I got light headed a couple of times during the session and he handled the situation perfectly, making me feel comfortable. He was efficient and precise. He is a fabulous artist and I will definitely go back to see him with all of my tattoos in the future. I would recommend this shop, it's sister shop, and Dylan to anyone. :) read more

Sara was incredible, my wife got a pretty big tattoo and it was her first one. She made us feel at ease with a nice dry humor, awesome artist and we both love what she did, a true artist in a comfortable environment. read more