Ink or Swim Tattoo

Ink or Swim Tattoo is an award-winning tattoo and piercing studio based along the historical Lincolnway corridor in Valparaiso, Indiana. From day one, we set out to create a safe, clean, and friendly environment for your permanent skin art and jewelry. We don't want clients worrying about shoddy equipment, tight quarters, or pushy artists at Ink or Swim; here, you're treated like family. As a reflection of this commitment to being the best, we are one of the only 100% 5-Star Rated tattoo shops in the area.

Our shop is a powerhouse-in-progress. Anchoring the tattoo side of things is nationally recognized, ten-year veteran, award-winner, and sponsored artist Emilio Saylor. Graduate of the first ever Ink or Swim Tattoo Apprenticeship, Berto Espinosa's bold and bright style is sure to blow you away. Newcomer and first-year tattooer Caela Rae is wowing clients more and more every day as she grows into her take on the modern tattooing style. Staci Hearne is currently apprenticing under Emilio, and continually goes above and beyond what she's asked. On the piercing side, we've been lucky enough to add the extremely talented and well-traveled Chadwick Frodnella as our first-ever piercer, and he has taken Rebecca Nyxx under his wing as an apprentice to continue her education. Supporting the artists and piercers on the day-to-day operation side is shop manager and co-owner Kerri.

We are the only shop in town that can boast being locally owned (Michael), veteran owned (Lee), and woman owned (Kerri), and take great pride representing all three groups.

Much like the high-end salons Kerri lead prior to owning the shop, your experience at Ink or Swim will be above and beyond your expectations in every facet. Our dedication to a clean, professional environment is apparent in everything we do, from using industry-leading suppliers to employing the best artists in around. A major part of our commitment to excellence is to be positive pillars of the Valparaiso community. Before we opened, Ink or Swim joined the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Our membership is the first and only for a tattoo business ever in Valpo, and we aim to continue redefining what it means to be a tattoo and piercing studio every chance we get.