If you want a cool tattoo in New York, go to one of these artists

One of the best parts of hot concrete season in N.YC. is when people strip down to their skimpiest, and their inked-up skin comes out to shine. Showing off my own tattoos is one of the great joys of summer — sleeves get shorter, and the Max Fleischer Koko the clown tattoo on the back of my arm pops out; lose the pants and the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome on my thigh peeks out from my short shorts. Summertime, without fail, always makes me wish I had even more ink. If you're feeling the itch, too, these brilliant N.Y.C.-based tattoo artists will do you right.

1. In the past few years, Tea Leigh expanded her repertoire from dainty floral pokes to elegant animals, faces, and landscapes.

A post shared by Tea (@tealeigh) on Sep 14, 2017 at 9:09am PDT

2. Hit up Mira Mariah If you're into any or all of the following: innovative line structure, unusual subjects, an occasional splash of color.

We will not age into conservativism, forgetting our ideaologies like those before us, because we permanently mark ourselves as revolutionaries. This is not a trend.

A post shared by mira mariah (@girlknewyork) on Apr 5, 2017 at 5:44pm PDT

3. Rosa Bluestone Perr specializes in tattoos that are halfway between delicate and badass.

I slept it away, I sexed it away, I read it away #stickandpoke #solange

A post shared by Rosa Bluestone Perr (@bluestonebabe) on Apr 25, 2017 at 4:55pm PDT

4. Bruno Levy is a master of thick lines and nostalgic images.

A post shared by Bruno Levy (@brunolevytattoo) on Mar 13, 2017 at 2:19pm PDT

5.When you need to go big, bold, or both, see Tamara Santibanez at Saved Tattoo.

💎 Turn Your Swag On 💎 script on @ndza

A post shared by Tamara Santibañez (@tamarasantibanez) on May 3, 2017 at 7:27am PDT

6. If you're looking for something a little different, go to Brooke Herr. She creates abstract, minimalist skin art.

A post shared by Brooke Herr (@behsticks) on Aug 21, 2017 at 5:47pm PDT

7. Ol Ash over at Magic Cobra Tattoo has a thing for beautiful color palettes and off-kilter designs.

Photo of the ladies #nastywomenvote #nastywoman #magiccobratattoo #williamsburg #kitsch #floraltattoo

A post shared by OL_Ash (@ol_ash) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:14pm PST

8. Flora, fauna, the animal kingdom, and silhouettes are Krista Morgenson's specialty. Her tats are just really, really pretty.

For Lauren and Avery 🐰 . . . . . . . . . . #handpoke #stickandpoke #machinefree #handpushed #handpokeartist #tattoo #blackwork #dotwork #linework #darkartists #blackworkerssubmission #qttr #mothgirltattoo

A post shared by krista morgenson (@mothgirltattoo) on Jan 31, 2017 at 11:26am PST

9. Knarly Gav is doing some crazy cool shit. What even is this skull sunset woman? And this mermaid cat? I love them all.

NYC June 4th - 30th Email me for questions or appointments gavan55@gmail.com

A post shared by Knarly Gav (@knarlygav) on May 8, 2017 at 4:54pm PDT

10. Delicate stick n' poker Kelli Kikcio tattooed some lovely snowdrops on FADER editor Aimee Cliff.

hand poked sweet&creepy, creepy&sweet for reb 🖤

A post shared by Kelli Kikcio (@kellikikcio) on May 1, 2017 at 1:00pm PDT

11. Long time East River Tattoo resident, Rob Banks is your go-to for strong, traditional work; tigers, snakes, skulls, knives, and lettering are all in his repertoire.

A post shared by ROB BANKS (@robbanksofamerica) on Aug 26, 2016 at 8:47pm PDT

12. Intricate designs and shading with movement characterizes the all-vegan work of Kalatu, who's posted at Gristle Tattoo in Brooklyn.

Kali Ma, done on Vday. A personal favorite goddess. @gristletattoo #kali#kalima#kalitattoo#goddess#hindugods#hindugoddess#hindutattoos#goddesstattoo#blackworkers#blackink#btattooing#blineworks#blackworkerssubmission#linework#blackworknyc#blacktattoos#blackworkny#woodcuttattoos#woodcut#etching#engraving#equillatera#darkartists#tttism#vgnink#vegantattoos#brooklyntattoos#blackinkmag#kurosumi#kalatu

A post shared by Kalatu (@kalatu_tattoo) on Feb 26, 2017 at 8:29pm PST

13. Rukus does bright, animated characters as well as traditional-style, single-needle, and cool abstract scenes.

A post shared by RUKUS.TATTOO@GMAIL.COM (@rukus_tattoo) on Jun 27, 2016 at 2:08pm PDT

14. My guy Nick Paine has a classic aesthetic and a knack for strong, steady lines. Find him at Greenpoint Tattoo or Allied Tattoo depending on the day; he's a pro.

A post shared by Nicholas Paine (@nickpaine_) on Feb 3, 2017 at 6:36pm PST

15. Laura Martinez, the co-owner of Fleur Noire, is into geometrics and sharp lines.

A post shared by NW / Laura Martinez (@nothingwildtattoo) on Mar 31, 2017 at 7:43am PDT

16. Also at East River, Ryan Shaffer's work has a wacky yet classic-feeling aesthetic.

A post shared by RYAN SHAFFER (@ryanshaffer) on Jul 18, 2017 at 5:06pm PDT

17. Looking for fine, intricate details executed with precision? You'll want Brookes Blalock, an indie tattooer who's into some dark images.

Homie prolly had it comin. For @bigfatjuicyeyeballs 🎋 Happy womans day!!!

A post shared by brookes. (@scariest_thug_ever) on Mar 8, 2017 at 12:47pm PST

18. Elijah Rivers over at Electric Gorilla has the range — from lettering to thick lines to realism.

A post shared by ⚡️Stickers⚡️ (@stickers_the_tattooer) on Nov 23, 2016 at 10:34am PST

19. If you're into gentle ink, try Mare Delanoir's ethereal tats.

A post shared by Mare (@maredelanoir) on Sep 12, 2017 at 5:06pm PDT

20. Very into the feathery, dreamlike style of Lauren O'Connor.

A post shared by Lauren O'Connor (@tattoo.tales) on Jul 28, 2017 at 1:35pm PDT

21. Kyle England's little tats are heavenly.

A post shared by @kyle.england on Jul 12, 2017 at 3:03pm PDT

22. The pastel pieces Will Sheldon does are kind of insane, in a great way.

A post shared by @willsheldon on Jul 21, 2017 at 8:11am PDT

23. Paging all nostalgists and cat-lovers! Jenna Bouma's flawless stick and pokes are for you.

A post shared by Jenna Bouma (@slowerblack) on Jul 7, 2015 at 10:57am PDT

24. For something a lil' more realistic, try Black Ink's Kevin Soomai.

A post shared by Kevin Soomai (@tattoothetown) on Dec 28, 2016 at 1:17pm PST

25. We can't get over Carson Foley's twisty architectural wonders.

A post shared by Carson Floey 🌀NYC (@bonechance) on Dec 17, 2017 at 1:47pm PST

26. Rita Salt's flash-only spooky images are for freaks only.

A post shared by Rita Salt (@ritasalt) on Aug 27, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT

27. Jackson Epstein will build you a sea tower or poke you a cute lil' bat friend

A post shared by Stick And Poke In NYC (@jackson.handpoke) on Aug 18, 2017 at 6:29am PDT

28. If you get lucky and grab an appointment with Mars Hobrecker, please get something spooky.

Pumpkin head for Cassie 🎃 It's almost that time of year! Let's do something spooky

A post shared by Mars Hobrecker (@marshobrecker) on Sep 15, 2017 at 6:59pm PDT

29. Ryan a/k/a traphousefanmail does sick images from your weirdest dreams at Black Square.

A post shared by BLACK $QUARE TATTOO NEW YORK (@traphousefanmail) on Jun 4, 2017 at 5:42pm PDT

30. The FADER loves cats and books and plants and so does Katya Krasnova.

A post shared by Katya Krasnova (@katya_krasnova) on Jun 20, 2017 at 7:21am PDT

31. Juan Diego Prieto plays with the line between macabre and spiritual.

A post shared by juandiegoprieto. (@illegal.tattoos) on Sep 13, 2016 at 6:01pm PDT