By Joy Riggs
You could say Emilie Robinson’s journey to becoming an in-demand tattoo artist in Minneapolis, Minnesota, started with one needle. But it actually goes back to college, when she decided to switch her major from pre-med to art. Because Emilie excelled at math and science, she initially planned on pursuing a high-earning job that would allow her to do good in the world. During undergrad, she realized she also wanted to do something that brought her joy.
“I was naïve,” Emilie said. “I thought, I love art, let’s do art.”
After graduation, she completed two years of service in AmeriCorps and went on to work at a nonprofit focused on refugee resettlement before finding a path back to a career as an artist. She envisioned doing visual art that was connected to community building. She happened to be getting a lot of tattoos at the time, and when a friend talked about wanting to become a tattoo artist, it sparked her interest.
Under state regulations, tattoo artists in Minnesota must pass a written exam on safety and sanitation practices and complete a minimum of 200 hours of supervised tattooing with a licensed technician. Emilie apprenticed with another tattoo artist and was on her way. The first tattoo she did was a three-dimensional cross with a drop shadow. Although it initially seemed easy, she quickly discovered that perfect straight lines are difficult to manage and a lot of what the artist does is by feel.
“I felt every part of my body sweating,” she said. “You’re tracing a line, but right where you’re working is obscured, and you’re working ahead and trusting your hand to move a different way.”
As a new tattoo artist, Emilie was surprised by the trust people placed in her to permanently alter a part of their body. Even now, with more than a decade of experience, she doesn’t take that trust for granted. Getting a tattoo can be a vulnerable experience that involves a lot of emotional processing.
The relationship between artist and client led Emilie to open a private tattoo studio, which became Merci Tattoo. She was intentional about creating an environment that was welcoming and allowed for collaboration, where clients felt their voices were heard and they weren’t at the whim of the tattoo artist. Over time, Emilie developed her own style and brand. She likes to incorporate flowers, tigers and birds in her designs and uses a palette with a 70s flair, featuring bold colors like turquoise and mustard. She finds inspiration in old textiles, vintage botanicals and European folk art.
Emilie had a son in 2022, closed Merci Tattoo, and took two years away from tattooing. During that time, to keep her artist skills fresh, she created pet portraits, which allowed her to work at her own pace and continue building community. It led to her commission as a cover artist for Publish Her’s “Dog Years” anthology, which was released in 2025, and benefits grants for underrepresented authors.
Today, Emilie tattoos at her private studio at The Seen Salon and Barbershop, located at 2721 E. Franklin Ave. in Minneapolis. She and her husband, Nathan, tag-team childcare responsibilities for their son, Frankie, who is now 3. As a mom and business owner, she is learning to rein in how much energy she gives the business and working to set boundaries, which—as a self-proclaimed overachiever—isn’t always easy. It sometimes means splitting up a tattoo and doing it over two sessions rather than pushing herself to keep it going and having a late night.
Though her skills and the way she works evolve, Emilie continues to enjoy meeting all kinds of people, finding common ground with them, and giving them something that makes them happy.
“I love that I get to draw for my job and I take pride in getting it as good as possible,” she said.
Emilie works on an appointment basis only and announces booking times on Instagram and via email. To learn more about Emilie and join her email list, visit emilierobinson.com. Follow @emilierobinsontattoo on Instagram.
Photos: Angela Divine Photography
