401 Tattoo and Antiquities

401 Tattoo and Antiquities, located in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, offers a unique and cozy environment, featuring rich wood furniture and display cases filled with intriguing oddities and curios. The studio is often lauded for its award-winning tattoo artists, who are recognized for their professional expertise and valuable design advice. Many clients, for example, report that artists like Ryan Veno provide masterful input, often resulting in finished tattoos that exceed original expectations.

Practical Info

While 401 Tattoo and Antiquities generally prefers appointments, some clients report successful walk-in experiences. However, some visitors have described booking inconsistencies, including unexpected reschedules and delays in receiving design sketches from certain artists. Conversely, other clients have noted staff efforts to accommodate and resolve scheduling issues, praising their customer service.

The Studio Experience

Clients frequently describe the studio’s atmosphere as welcoming, clean, and professional, with a distinctive artsy grunge vibe. Visitors appreciate the comfortable environment and engaging conversations with artists. However, some clients have reported negative interactions with specific artists, citing rudeness. Regarding safety, while many attest to cleanliness, at least one client reported contracting a CA-MRSA infection after a tattoo, which they attributed to unsterilized equipment and unprofessional conduct by artist Robert, prompting another visitor to echo safety concerns related to this specific artist.

The Artists and Their Work

The studio boasts a team of acclaimed artists. Jimmy is consistently praised as a phenomenal talent known for vibrant colors, intricate detail, and impressive designs, from sleeves to unique pieces. Other highly recommended artists include Ryan Veno, Uwana, Bishop, Gillian, Gwendoline Lee, Marie, and Sam Moore, all noted for their artistry, customer service, and successful cover-up work. While owner Robert is celebrated by some for his diverse artistry, others have reported highly unprofessional behavior and unsatisfactory results from him.

What Customers Say

Many clients consistently praise the studio’s environment and service. As one visitor noted, the atmosphere is “always welcoming, clean, and extremely professional.” Another client, thrilled with their outcome, shared that their tattoo “turned out better than the reference picture I provided and I couldn’t be happier!” Overall, visitors frequently describe their visits as “just an awesome experience from start to finish,” often expressing intentions to return for future tattoos.