self-described as the 'most artistically marked up man in America', Gus had over 800 tattoos of his own. he learned the art of tattooing whiles as a merchant around the turn of the century. after exploring the world, he returned to America to become a tattoo illustrator. Gus adorned thousands of customers from coast to coast int he early years of the 20th century.
"These on my body, for instance, are mementos featuring incidents of my life and travels."-GUS WAGNER
men like these where sailor jerry built his reputation"

Gus

Wagner

Sailor

Jerry

possibly the most influential of all the 20th century tattoo artists sailor jerry was born in the US where he travelled to Japan in the military where he learnt the art of Japanese tattooing while in service. Sailor jerry didn’t just invent a brand-new style of tattooing, he created custom needle formations so the pigment could be imbedded with less trauma to the skin. he created his own pigment- with a significantly wide variety of colours whilst also being one of the first tattoo artist to sterilise equipment’s and utilise single use needles. sailor Jerry’s signature illustration included a bottle of alcohol, snakes, wildcats, eagles and birds of prey and more
"Millions of young American men who would have otherwise been upstanding vanilla-looking, cardigan wearing citizens, where thrust into war...it was on the backs, shoulders and arms of men like these where sailor jerry built his reputation"