Photo Story: A look inside Columbia’s Iron Tiger Tattoo

Alix Queen

October 10, 2023

On a Friday night in Columbia, you can expect a downtown tattoo parlor to be filled with artists and customers getting fresh ink.

Iron Tiger Tattoo Parlor, located in downtown Columbia, often has people coming in and out of its doors each Friday night.

Sam Karstens puts on gloves before tattooing. — Sam Karsten (left) puts on gloves before tattooing a heart as part of a matching set for a group of best friends on Sept. 22 at Iron Tiger Tattoo, Columbia, Mo. Karsten has been refining his craft in the tattoo industry for eight years since his start in Kansas City, Mo.

Owner Gabe Garcia double checks his artwork on his iPad. — Iron Tiger owner Gabe Garcia double-checks a design he drew prior to printing it out on a stencil. Garcia started his career at 19-years-old and since then has become the owner of Iron Tiger and Tattoo You — which he co-owns with his wife Felix Garcia.

Gabe Garcia cleans his station before his next appointment. — Gabe Garcia cleans up his station before inviting in his next client. Garcia specializes in many different tattoo styles, including American traditional, fine line and traditional Japanese.

A customer smiles as Gabe Garcia preps her arm for the tattoo. — Bryn Chynoweth (left) smiles as Gabe Garcia shaves her arm in preparation for the tattoo. This tattoo featured plant and nature themes similar to Chynoweth’s other tattoos that she had done previously.

Gabe Garcia loads up his tattoo machine before tattooing his client. — Gabe Garcia picks out a needle and puts it into his tattoo machine before getting to work. In addition to his tattooing artistry, Garcia is an antique collector and has a collection of tattoo machines he uses for his work.

Colby Morton gets closer to his client while tattooing their wrist. — Colby Morton gets a better view while tattooing a client’s wrist. Morton has been tattooing since 2015, specializing in American-style tattoos.

Colby Morton places a wrapping on client Jessica Hosack’s fresh tattoo. — Tattoo artist Colby Morton places Saniderm on his client Jessica Hosack’s wrist. Hosack explained that the arrow mixed with an infinity symbol was a representation of learning and moving forward from her past mistakes.

Visuals Edited by Michael Baniewicz | [email protected]

Copy Edited by Emma Short and Sterling Sewell | [email protected]