Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Thomas.
Hi Joseph, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story starts in Philadelphia — born and raised. I grew up between Germantown, where I went to elementary school and high school, and the Kensington and Allegheny area, where I spent most of my teenage years. Those neighborhoods don’t hand you anything. We were poor. My dad left when I was 9 or 10 years old, and I didn’t really have a father figure in my life until my stepfather came in. My parents did the best they could with what they had, but we lacked resources, knowledge, and a lot of the basics most people grow up taking for granted. Looking back, that environment is exactly what shaped me. It taught me how to survive, how to adapt, and most importantly — how to dream bigger than the block I came from.
I picked up my first tattoo machine in 2013, at 21 years old, right after I came home from prison. Tattooing wasn’t even on my radar before that. What I had was art — I was always drawing. While I was locked up, I’d create artwork for the guys inside to send home to their families. Portraits on handkerchiefs. Custom designs on sneakers. Anything that could give them a piece of themselves to send to the people they loved. A few of the guys in there started telling me, “When you get out, you need to tattoo.” I brushed it off. I didn’t even want tattoos myself at the time, let alone make a career out of giving them.
When I came home, reality hit hard. No legitimate job wanted to hire a felon. I was doing graffiti to bring in a little money, but it wasn’t a business — it was survival. My little brother kept pressing me about tattooing, and I kept turning him down. Until one day, I came home from seeing my probation officer and there was an Amazon tattoo kit sitting on my bed. That was the sign. I picked it up, and my brother became my very first client.
From there, I went all in — but the road was anything but easy. I tried to land an apprenticeship and shop after shop turned me away, saying I didn’t have enough experience. I’d go home every night and practice until my hands cramped. My fiancée and I would drive 30 minutes, an hour, two hours away just for a shot at hearing someone say yes. It was frustrating. It was draining. There were nights I genuinely didn’t think this career would ever take off. But I kept showing up. Eventually, Skin Deep Tattoo Studio in Philadelphia gave me my shot. That’s where my story really began. I spent a year there soaking up everything I could, growing faster than I ever imagined — and that growth opened doors I never saw coming.
By my third and fourth year in, I started competing locally — Philly, New Jersey, New York, Baltimore. Over the years, I’ve won several awards from different shows, and each one reminded me that the kid from Germantown and Kensington who couldn’t even get a yes for an apprenticeship was now standing on stages being recognized for his craft. The Philadelphia Tattoo Convention, one of the biggest in the country, was my first major platform. Not long after that, at 25 years old, I stepped onto my very first airplane in my life and flew to Chicago for my second expo. I didn’t make a dime at that one — and that humbled me. It taught me that talent alone isn’t enough. You have to learn how to book clients, how to brand yourself, how to build a business. That lesson changed everything.
Being a Black tattoo artist from Philly came with its own obstacles. For a long time, realism wasn’t a style the masses associated with artists who looked like me. We weren’t seen in that lane. But I was optimistic, and I knew the kind of art I wanted to create — realism so sharp it looks like a sticker on the skin, pieces that pop off the body like they’re alive. I couldn’t find anyone in my city who could teach me that style the way I envisioned it. So I traveled. I spent time in Europe sharpening my craft, and over the years I’ve been blessed to guest spot at shops in countries all around the world — every trip teaching me something new about the art, the culture, and myself. Some of my biggest inspirations came from artists I had the honor of learning from personally — David Vega out of Austin, Texas; Gabriel Gonzalez out of Hollywood, Florida; and Elliott Kohek out of France. Each one of them shaped a piece of the artist I am today.
Fast forward to now — 13 years deep in the tattoo industry, 7 years as a business owner, and I just made history as the first tattoo artist to ever open a studio in Newtown, Pennsylvania. An upper-tier town that had never seen one before. People told me no. People judged me. Some said they hated tattoos and didn’t want my kind of business in their town. The permits took forever. The investment was massive. I wasn’t financially stable when I made the move — but I walked out on faith. I saw the vision, and I wasn’t letting anyone or anything stop me from planting my flag here. Newtown is the town I’m building my legacy in.
Outside of tattooing, I’m with my family — building memories, learning business, growing as a man. I’m determined, passionate, loyal, and kind. I push forward because I know what it feels like to have nothing, and I know what it takes to build something out of it. I love helping others. If I can lift someone up, I will. I’m not perfect, but I show up every day trying to be a better version of myself — because that’s how you inspire other people to do the same.
From Germantown to Kensington. From prison cells to international stages. From being told no by every shop in Philly to being the first tattoo studio owner in Newtown’s history. This journey has been everything but easy — and that’s exactly what makes it mine. I built a legacy, I built a family, and I turned a dream into reality. I’m grateful I never gave up. And the truth is — I’m just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, no — the road has been far from smooth. If anything, it’s been one of the most challenging journeys I’ve ever walked through, but every struggle shaped me into the artist and business owner I am today.
It started with my background. Coming home from prison in 2013 with a felony on my record, no job wanted to hire me. I tried. I really did. But door after door closed in my face. I had to figure out how to survive, how to take care of the people I loved, and how to build something out of nothing — with no blueprint, no financial backing, and no real guidance.
When I decided to pursue tattooing, the rejection didn’t stop. Shop after shop turned me down for apprenticeships, telling me I didn’t have enough experience. My fiancée and I would drive 30 minutes, an hour, two hours away just for a chance at someone saying yes — and most of the time, the answer was still no. There were nights I went home questioning if this dream was even meant for me. But I kept practicing. I kept drawing. I kept showing up. Because giving up wasn’t an option when I had a family depending on me.
Being a Black tattoo artist from Philadelphia pursuing realism came with its own battles. For a long time, the masses didn’t see artists who looked like me in that lane. I had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, and even harder to find mentors who could teach me the style I wanted to master. That’s part of why I started traveling — I had to leave my city, and eventually the country, to find the knowledge I was hungry for.
Financially, it’s been a constant climb. There were times I didn’t know how I was going to pay a bill, feed my family, or keep moving forward. My first major expo in Chicago — I didn’t make a single dollar. That was humbling. It taught me that talent isn’t enough. You have to learn the business side, the branding side, the people side. I had to teach myself all of that on the fly, while still trying to grow as an artist.
And then there’s Newtown. Opening the first tattoo studio in this town’s history wasn’t welcomed by everyone. I faced judgment, I faced people who told me they hated tattoos and didn’t want my kind of business here. The permits took forever. The build-out was a massive investment. I wasn’t financially stable when I made the move — I walked out on pure faith. There were moments I questioned everything. But I held onto the vision, because I knew what I was building wasn’t just a shop — it was a legacy.
The struggles were real, and they still come. But every obstacle I’ve faced taught me something I needed to learn. I’m grateful for the no’s, the closed doors, the sleepless nights, and the hard lessons. They built the man standing here today — and they’re the reason I’ll never stop pushing forward.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional tattoo artist with 13 years in the industry and 7 years as a business owner. I specialize in realism — particularly dark realism with high contrast, blending warm and cool tones with heavy blacks and intentional pops of color. My work is built around creating pieces that feel alive on the skin — tattoos that look like stickers, like they could peel off and walk away. I want every piece to be expressive, emotional, and unforgettable.
I’m the founder of Philly Joe Tattoos & Cosmetics, the first tattoo studio ever opened in Newtown, Pennsylvania — a milestone I’m proud to say I made history with. My studio offers custom tattoo work, cosmetic tattooing, and a curated experience that feels more like walking into a gallery than a traditional shop. The space, the energy, and the artistry are all intentional. I built it that way because I wanted people to feel something the moment they walked through the door.
I’m known for my dark, cinematic style — the kind of work that tells a story without saying a word. Over the years, I’ve won several awards at tattoo competitions across the country, and I’ve had the honor of guest spotting at shops in different countries around the world. Every city, every shop, every artist I’ve worked with has added a new layer to who I am today. Traveling shaped my craft in ways no classroom or apprenticeship ever could.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the awards, the studio, or the recognition. It’s the journey. I’m proud that I came home from prison in 2013 with nothing but raw talent and a dream, and I built a career, a brand, and a legacy from the ground up. I’m proud that I never gave up — even when shop after shop turned me away, even when I had no money, even when people doubted whether someone like me could make it in this lane. I’m proud that I get to provide for my family doing what I love, and that I get to inspire others to bet on themselves the way I bet on me.
What sets me apart is everything I had to overcome to get here. My story isn’t a clean, polished, “art school to success” path — it’s grit, faith, and relentless hustle. I see things others don’t see. I’m resourceful. I make the impossible possible. I’m not just a tattoo artist — I’m a creator, a businessman, a visionary, and a builder. I’m constantly thinking three moves ahead, whether it’s expanding my brand, developing my clothing line, creating original art series, or building a membership program that elevates the entire tattoo experience.
But more than anything, what truly sets me apart is heart. I treat every client like family. I pour myself into every piece. I show up with integrity, loyalty, and a commitment to the craft that runs deeper than any trend or industry standard. I didn’t just come into this industry to tattoo — I came in to leave a legacy. And that’s exactly what I’m building, one piece, one day, one client at a time.
How do you define success?
“Success to me goes far deeper than money, awards, or recognition. Success is *legacy* — building something so solid that it outlives me and represents where I came from.
I grew up in Germantown and Kensington in Philadelphia. The odds were never in my favor. I came home in 2013 and picked up a tattoo machine at 21 with nothing but raw talent, hunger, and faith. No blueprint. No safety net. Just belief.
Success is *freedom* — never being told no again. Owning my time, my craft, and my decisions. It’s what pushed me to open my own studio in Newtown, PA and make history as the first of my kind in that town.
Success is *impact* — going back to where I came from and showing the next generation that it’s possible. That your zip code doesn’t define your ceiling.
Success is *family* — being able to provide and protect the people I love without limits.
Success is *faith* — because every move I’ve made that looked impossible on paper, I made anyway. And it worked.
To me, success isn’t a destination. It’s the life you build when you refuse to quit.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.PhillyJoe215.com
- Instagram: @joetattoos215
- Facebook: PhillyJoetattoostudio LLC
