Join Future Ink — Oakland Tattoo Artist Residencies
5251 Broadway, Oakland, California — Currently accepting resident applications
Who we're looking for?
Future Ink is a specialized signature studio — and we're actively looking for resident artists who own specific lanes we don't currently have on the roster.
We are especially looking for specialists in:
- Realism (black-and-grey and color)
- Traditional Americana and neo-traditional
- Japanese irezumi (traditional, not Japanese-influenced)
- Large-scale color work
- Stipple realism
- Trash polka
- Single-needle micro-realism
If you own one of these lanes — meaning your portfolio is recognizably yours, you have a clear style identity, and clients seek you out for that style specifically — we want to talk.
Why Future Ink?
We aren't a generalist shop. We're not chasing every walk-in regardless of style.
We're built around resident artists who each own a distinct lane — and we market the studio that way. Each artist's page on futureink.co targets their specific style searches; the studio's overall presence drives heavy blackwork, Japanese geometry, and blackout work; and we send adjacent-style consultations to whoever owns that lane on the roster.
This works best for artists who:
- Have a clear style identity (not "I do everything")
- Are interested in being marketed as the go-to person for their lane in the Bay Area
- Want a clean shop, fair scheduling, and a roster that respects each artist's specialty
It does not work well for artists who:
- Want to take any booking that comes through the door
- Are early-career and still figuring out their style
- Are looking for an employer-employee setup with hourly pay
What residents get?
Resident artists at Future Ink get:
- A dedicated station in a clean, licensed studio at 5251 Broadway, Oakland (Temescal/Rockridge border)
- Marketing through the studio's website, IG, Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places, and active local press relationships
- A personal artist page on futureink.co optimized for your style's search terms (we did this for every current resident — see /artists for the roster)
- Direct booking referrals when consultations come in for your lane
- Access to Future Ink Supply (our parallel needle and ink line — discounted for residents)
- Industry-standard rent or commission structure (discussed at consultation)
- Creative autonomy — you set your prices, your hours within studio hours (11 AM – 7 PM, 7 days), and your portfolio direction
How residencies work here?
Future Ink's residency model is a flat roster — no apprentice-to-resident pipeline, no junior tiers among residents. Each resident is treated as the studio's expert in their lane.
The expectation:
- You're already an experienced tattoo artist (5+ years for resident track, exceptions for senior specialists with proven portfolios)
- You hold a valid California Body Art Practitioner registration and current bloodborne pathogen certification
- You maintain your own Instagram and client communication
- You commit to a minimum scheduled days per week (negotiated individually, typically 3–5 days)
- You contribute to the studio culture — fair scheduling, station cleanliness, mutual respect for the other residents' work
We do also accept apprentices (currently Annie Serrano, takotaco, is our apprentice), but apprentice slots are filled by referral from current residents and aren't open applications.
Styles already covered on the current roster
For transparency, here's what we already have:
- Heavy blackwork, Japanese geometry, blackout — Kevin Ligabue (founder)
- Heavy blackwork, Japanese hybrids, geometric — Martín González (BOGA) — note: leaving studio in July 2026, position opening up
- Dotwork, sacred geometry, blackwork — Eduar Talavera
- Dark botanical, ornamental, blackwork — Hira Lupe
- Modern Japanese, ornamental, full color — Essie Bloom
- Fine line, voile X-ray, smokey, dainty — Alisha
- Illustrative blackwork, sixteenth-century etching — Addison Kupina
- Illustrative, anime, manga, gaming (apprentice) — Annie Serrano (takotaco)
How to apply
Send an application to info@futureink.co with subject line "Resident application — [your style lane]."
Include:
- Your portfolio link (Instagram, personal website, or both)
- A short description of the lane you own and the work you'd want to focus on at Future Ink
- Years tattooing
- Current shop and reason for moving (one or two sentences)
- Your CA Body Art Practitioner registration number (or equivalent if relocating)
- Whether you're looking for full residency or part-time station-share
We review applications on a rolling basis. If your portfolio is a fit for what we're looking for, we'll set up a phone or in-person conversation. From there it's a studio visit, a trial period, and a residency offer.
Decisions are made quickly. If we don't think it's a fit we'll tell you within a week.
Frequently asked questions
Is Future Ink hiring right now?
Yes. We're actively looking for resident artists in specific style lanes (see the list above). We also have one resident position opening in July 2026 due to a departure. Apprentice slots are by referral only and aren't open for applications.
Do you accept apprentices?
Apprentice slots are filled by referral from current residents. We aren't taking open apprentice applications at this time.
What's the rent / commission structure?
Discussed at the first conversation — we don't post specifics publicly. We're competitive with Bay Area studios in our tier and have a clean, transparent structure.
Can I do a guest spot first to see if it's a fit?
Yes — we host guest artists regularly. Email info@futureink.co with subject "Guest spot inquiry" and your portfolio. Most guest spots run 1–2 weeks.
Where is Future Ink located?
5251 Broadway, Oakland CA 94618 — on the Temescal/Rockridge border, 5 minutes from Rockridge BART, 20 minutes from downtown San Francisco.