Shanghai Kate’s Tattoo

Got an amazing tattoo at Shanghai Kate’s! Diana Pírez was spot on with her work! She took my vision and made it into a tattoo masterpiece! I’m beyond pleased! The shop had a comfortable zen vibe and was very clean! Highly recommended! Ask for Diana!

Kate is amazing.
I showed her some pictures and we discussed what I wanted. She actually listened to me. We decided on her sketching an original and when I came back to see it she blew my mind. It was better than what I had even imagined. It had all the elements I was talking to her about and when it was done it was even better than the sketch.
She’s been tattooing for over 45 years. She has intuition and she’s truly an artist.
There is no way I could be happier!!!
Thank you so much Kate.

About the shop itself: Adorable. Very cllean, inviting and *so* not like any tattoo shop out there (yes-that’s a great thing)
About the tattoo/​her work: I’ve never had tattoos heal faster or cleaner. Not only that, she took my aforesaid partial coverup and made magic on it. Seriously-​I ACTUALLY love seeing my arm. I was a bumbling not-​so-​sure person coming in to her place: she gently nudged me with chats and pictures and feeling me out. Bam: I have a beautiful piece of art.
About the lady: This is THE goddess of tattoos. I live by here and always drove by it. Two years of hemming and hawing over my partially done coverup tattoo, I finally broke down and saw her. Ladies and gentleman: it was like only knowing Super 8s and moving into the Ritz. For. REAL. This woman has soul, experience and talent. Her skill and empathy-​YES empathy-​for what you want and how you want it is outstanding; I didn’t know tattoo artists could be like this. I kid you not-​this lady could do circles around most folks. Go go go – you won’t regret it!!!

I have been on Unilocal for 4 years and nothing has moved me enough to write a review. I now feel compelled to let others know about my amazing experience. First, let me say, it is an honor to have a living legend tattooing here in Austin. I am a person that relishes the experience of getting a tattoo. The experience is as important as the result. I did some research on Shanghai Kate and watched some videos. I was awestruck with my exploration. I called her and set up a consult. I met with her and we discussed my tattoo design and the meaning behind it. It was an informative and comforting consult. The design I brought her was one that I did. She complimented me on it and stated that she wanted to leave it like it was. I was so flattered to have received such praise from her. We set an appointment around her busy schedule.
After some minor rescheduling, I finally got to go get my tattoo and I was so excited. Ms. Kate made me feel so comfortable. She treated me like family from the beginning. She was beaming with astonishing stories of her past. It never felt like bragging or boasting, but rather much like an accomplished raconteur. Ms. Kate is a resilient woman that captivates you with her tales of her glories, pioneering, hard times, and what is in store for her future. Ms. Kate is robust and tells you how it is, but in a manner that is truly charismatic. Music filled the shop as she set up. Being in her super clean shop, it is like being in a museum. She has legendary tattoo art history on her walls and décor that showcases some of her past.
The time had come to get started on the tattoo. The placement was done carefully to compliment the other tattoos I have. I got this tattoo in a tricky spot on the back of my arm where I had some space. It was placed perfectly. We talked about movies and she put a great movie on for me since I had to lie down awkwardly. The move was a great choice. We also chatted through-​out the tattooing process. I knew she was worlds apart from other tattoo artists when she started up her tattoo machine and it was way quieter than others. We took a break after the outline and it was remarkable and flawless. Ms. Kate received visitors (patrons) who (out of kindness of their heart) decided to stop by and bring her some excellent home cooked food for lunch. They complimented her on her line-​work with genuine enthusiasm. Ms. Kate finished up the color portion of the tattoo. Now, came the time to see the finished product. I was blown away. It was beyond better than I envisioned it my head. The colors are perfect, the placement is spot on, and it is as zenith as quality gets. Ms. Kate is gave me careful instructions on how to care for my new permanent art.
I cannot express enough how excited I am with my new tattoo and the experience. Ms. Shanghai Kate took her time with the entire process. Nothing was rushed, because the best quality is what you are getting. I feel honored to have some of her work on me. Needless to say, I will be back for more and I will recommend her anyone that wants a tattoo. Ms. Kate is a must for those who want to have an exceptional tattoo experience.

If you are looking for a professional tattoo artist that will take extra care to ensure minimal discomfort — you have come to the right place. Appointments are recommended but not required. Kate is always on time and she will have sketches ready for you to review if you send her your ideas in advance. She can explain the history of tattoos in her awesome studio on Guadalupe (which is always clean and neat by the way…). Shanghai Kate is a master artist and I will never get another tattoo from anyone else. She has a customer and friend for life :) xoxox Jenn Koch

This is the place. This is the woman. This is a piece of American Folk Art History that landed in Austin.
Kate is a true master: master tattooer, master life adventurer, and master storyteller, and a true curator of American tattoo oral history, from the flash of Sailor Jerry to the single needle black and gray of Good Time Charlie’s and Tattooland.
And all that aside, she is one of the nicest, most generous people ever. I have been lucky enough to listen to her tell stories about the old days, and fortunate enough to be tattooed by her. It’s a blessing to the Austin tattoo seekers that she is here, now, still working and living the dream, in between being internationally renowned and traveling to tattoo her fans at a never-​ending parade of conventions. Don’t hesitate for a second to call her, or stop by, and make an appointment. Get on it while it could still be considered an insider’s secret that she has set up shop here.
It’s a quiet, cozy, intimate setting. Kate will make you feel completely at home and at ease, with the skill, wisdom and process of generations of tattoo history surrounding you. Her work is amazing, and if it’s a classic flash design you seek, enjoy her eyes light up as she talks to you about what piece of history you want to carry with you.

Seriously, as good as it gets. I went to get my second tattoo from Shanghai Kate and was deciding between 2 different designs. Kate asked all the right questions and provided advice based on her experience & expertise… in the end I got an AMAZING tattoo and could not be happier. In fact I went back 5 days later to get another… The shop is nice & warm, a friendly environment (not all LA Ink crap with attitude and b.s.). The work Kate does is stunning. She has an amazing eye for detail, shading and placement and I look forward to Tattoo #4!
Thank you Kate!

Shanghai Kate. It’s hard to write a review without sounding fan-​boy-​ish. Technically speaking, she’s an amazing tattoo artist. Her line work and shading has a precision I’ve never seen before. Her color, breath taking and enduring, retaining its vitality years and years later. Her hand is so light you can barely feel it, but just as effective. There’s less trauma to the skin so your healing time is shorter. She’s an incredible artist, and designing for three-​dimensional and dynamic surface is no easy task. As a historian, well, Kate IS the history of tattooing… Google it.
But that’s not what makes getting a tattoo from Kate an extraordinary experience. Sure, she needs the what and where of your ideas, but she’s just as focused on the why of your ideas, the emotion behind the design. She genuinely cares what it is that motivates you to cough up the money, set aside the time, and endure the pain. She takes your what and where and why, adding her experience and expertise. And the outcome is something exquisitely you. But more. Because through the process you come to the realization that there are others just like you, all over the world, connected to each other by Kate’s hand, ink and skin, a little pain, and a lot of love.

Update! I got my koi cover-​up and it is SO BEAUTIFUL! I could not possibly be happier with it.
I will never go to another tattoo artist besides Kate. EVAH!

This is a great shop, owned by one of the greats! Shanghai Kate’s is a clean, calm, and charming shop. Kate herself is super nice, and very interesting to talk to. I and my two cousins were tattooed here by guest artist Shorty, who did highly detailed black and white work with great shading for us. We were all very pleased with our tattoos and have received tons of compliments. I just can’t recommend this place enough!

This is a great shop. I’ve come to get tattooed by Jason three times and he always does a great job. He is friendly and really attentive to how your doing throughout the entire process. Looking to get that next tattoo I wouldn’t look any further than this shop.

I have been getting tattooed by Jason Keith at Shanghai Kate’s and he is great. He is cheerful, professional, creative and very much a master at his craft. I like Jason because he is unpretentious and educated in the history of tattooing. These two things are very important to me. You can really see his respect for the craft and culture. Plus, he will make you feel at ease when getting tattooed. Everyone wants to have a good experience and he provides that.
The shop is really welcoming and clean. Kate is a rad and totally fascinating woman. There is nothing unprofessional about the environment whatsoever. Just real artists making real tattoos. Go see Jason Keith! You won’t regret it.

Well first off what I can I say, I love this place, the shop is superbly clean, the backyard is so calm and serene! I recently got a tattoo from Mr. Animal, this is second one from him, and let me just say it just keeps getting better and better!!! This tattoo that I came in for was initially a cover up, I was worried that my options were limited, and that color was probably not even an option. Thanks to Animal’s genuine experience and knowledge, he literally told me the door was wide open, and that the sky was the limit! We had our consultation on Sunday, he took pictures and tracings, to really work on my drawing. Setup our appt for the following Tuesday evening and the finished worked was amazing! We couldn’t even see the initial tattoo when he was finished, neither could Kate! I can’t think him enough for the work and time he put in to my piece. If you want quality work, you’ll be proud to show off everywhere, then this is the right place! You will not be disappointed!!!