My name is Isabela Livingstone, and I founded June Bug Tattoo after spending years navigating an industry that has historically been male-dominated, and often unsafe for women and queer artists. Early in my career, I experienced firsthand how difficult it was for women not only to find jobs, but to be treated with basic respect. This didn't only extend to tattoo artists’ lived experience, I heard story after story from tattoo clients about the artists that made them feel unsafe and who had committed to only getting tattoos from female artists as a result. Those experiences shaped my commitment to creating something different, something better.

In 2023, I launched a comprehensive, structured apprenticeship program specifically for women. I wanted to provide the kind of mentorship, education, and opportunity that I never had access to. My goal has always been to create a pathway into tattooing that is safe, supportive, and rooted in community rather than intimidation or gatekeeping.

This mission became even more personal in 2025, when my studio in Altadena burned down in the Eaton fire. Overnight, I lost the business I had poured my life into. Rebuilding hasn’t been easy but the support from the community and the artists I’ve mentored has reinforced why I do this work. I’m rebuilding June Bug Tattoo not just as a business, but as a sanctuary for artists who have been overlooked or pushed out of traditional tattoo spaces.

What drives me is the belief that tattooing, one of the oldest art forms in human history, should be accessible to everyone, not just those who fit a narrow mold. I want women and queer artists to enter this field without facing harassment, discrimination, or the pressure to “prove” their worth. My purpose is to create a studio where safety, inclusivity, and artistry exist side by side, and where future generations of artists can grow without the barriers I had to overcome.