20 insanely talented tattoo artists you should follow on Instagram

Over the weekend I came across this two year old Buzzfeed article on 27 Insanely Talented Tattoo Artists You Should be Following on Instagram. I decided to create my own list. Yeah some of these artists are good but I can think of several artists are better. I decided to just do 20 instead of 27 just to save me time. Yeah, I'm lazy. LOL! The majority of the artists I am featuring all specializes in black ink/linework/dotwork tattoos. I have to admit I find them more appealing than tattoos with colors however artists like Stephanie Brown and Esther Garcia does some stunning work using colors. I also included a few local tattoo artists from the Twin Cities. Everyone on my list is definitely worth checking out. I hope one day to get some work by the women at Black Oak Tattoo. Heavy emphasis on the word "hope".

01. Kelly Violence

Picture doesn't show the size or placement on the man mountain that is Edi. Came from Switzerland for his first tattoo because he's a badass 💪🏻 CAAAAAWWWWW

A post shared by Kelly Violet (@kellyviolence) on Mar 28, 2017 at 10:14am PDT

02. Sarah Whitehouse

Thanks so much Jasmine was loads of fun 💘xxx done at @parliamenttattoo

A post shared by Sarah Whitehouse 💩🏠 (@warahshitehouse) on Apr 6, 2017 at 1:50pm PDT

03. Jonathan Love

Fun shrak @black_iris_tattoo #blacktattooart #btattooing #blackink #blackworkerssubmission #darkartists #inkjecta

A post shared by Jonathan Love (@jonald_juck) on Apr 10, 2017 at 1:55pm PDT

04. Ryan Murray

on this night of a thousand stars let me take you to heaven's door 🌑 "the god awful truth"

A post shared by Ryan (@ryanmrray) on Apr 2, 2017 at 10:44am PDT

05. Matt Murray

the night follows close 🌙 first one of the @bostontattoocon

A post shared by Matthew Murray (@mattwmurray) on Mar 26, 2017 at 7:52am PDT

06. Phil Tworavens

Rose in a Wolf for Ricky! Thank you 🌹🌒 email me for bookings phil.tworavens@gmail.com If you already sent an email, please be patient. I'll get back to you asap! Thank you ✨

A post shared by ☽ Phil Tworavens ☾ (@lustandconsume) on Apr 3, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT

07. Oozy

🌿 Goat skull 🌿 . #oozytattoo #blackwork

A post shared by OOZY (최우진) (@oozy_tattoo) on Mar 14, 2017 at 4:55am PDT

08. Pony Reinhardt

Egyptian goddess depicted as a leopard with serpent crown, machete, ylang ylang and jasmine, swarmed by bees - with frailejone plant. Thanks Nico!

A post shared by Pony Reinhardt Tattoo (@freeorgy) on Mar 16, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

09. Alli Shelly

@lowwbones hands of glory. Left fresh, right healed. . . . . #hand #handofglory #occult #dotworkers #dotworktattoo #blackworkerssubmission #blackworktattoo #btattooing #darkartists #txttooing #ttt #tattoo #ladytattooers #qttr #tailorbirdtattoo #minneapolis

A post shared by Alli Shelly (@alli.shelly) on Feb 8, 2017 at 2:25pm PST

10. A. Junko Osaki

Baphomet! Done at @divingswallowtattoo

A post shared by A. Junko Osaki (@ajunkysock) on Mar 1, 2017 at 11:40am PST

11. Tine Defiore

@nepaltattooconvention @blackoaktattoo #222 #blacktattooart #blacktattooing #blackworkers #tattoos

A post shared by Tine D. (@tinedefiore) on Apr 2, 2017 at 6:01am PDT

12. Cloey Nathaniel

🐇 Thank you, @jenelling! @blackoaktattoo #222 #blackink #btattooing #blackworkers #blackworkerssubmission

A post shared by Cloey Nathaniel (@inkbrambles) on Apr 10, 2017 at 4:16pm PDT

13. Nate Vincent Szklarski

Fun wolf versus cougar tattoo from last year.

A post shared by Nate Vincent Szklarski (@natevsftw) on Apr 4, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

14. Rita Jean Zagars

Hummingbird & dogwood for Lizzy, loved doing this one 😊

A post shared by Rita Jean Zagars (@ritajeanzagars) on Mar 20, 2017 at 8:44am PDT

15. Rachel Hauer

All healed up on this one! Done @eastrivertattoo

A post shared by Rachel (@rachelhauer) on Mar 29, 2017 at 7:57pm PDT

16. Stephanie Brown

From the archives this Sunday, a year ago almost exactly: black snakes among the flora. Black snakes forever. 🐍🥀🖤 All tattoos drawn by me, unless specified - this piece was finished in ~5 sessions, for reference.

A post shared by Stephanie Brown (@feralcatbox) on Feb 26, 2017 at 9:29am PST

17. Esther Garcia

Full view of lace moth and pomegranates. There are cover ups on both sides. This lovely woman has been a client of mine for many years, and she has a limited color palette for her full body - that is, she only has tattoos in tones of red and black.

A post shared by Esther Garcia (@butterstinker) on Feb 13, 2017 at 8:36am PST

18. Jack Ankersen

Thanks Isaac!

A post shared by Jack Ankersen (@jack_ankersen) on Mar 25, 2017 at 6:30am PDT

19. Slumdog.Tattooer

Done @holynoirtattoo . . #blacktattooart #blackworkerssubmission #tttism #txttooing #onlyblackart #darkartists #TAOT #onlythedarkest

A post shared by |SLUMDOG|📍Basel|Switzerland (@slumdog.tattooer) on Mar 24, 2017 at 3:20pm PDT

20. Han Shinko

Hyena #tattoo #tattoos #tattooed #tattoodesign #ink #inks #inked #tattooart #inkart #art #artwork #drawing #essencity #stadtessen #germany #europe #deutschland #igdaily #tattoosofinstagram #thewhiteroomtattoo #blackworkers #blackwork #traditionaltattoo #oldschooltattoo #onlyblackart #darkartists #topclasstattooing #tttism #btattooing

A post shared by Han shinko (@hanaroshinko) on Jan 20, 2017 at 10:30am PST