Our mission is to cultivate a safer, sustainable, and inclusive environment for Black, Indigenous, racialized, Queer, and Trans tattoo artists. Recognizing the historical dominance of white men in the tattoo industry, we aim to challenge this narrative by providing a holistic and intentional experience for those seeking body modification through tattoos.

Creating a ‘safer’ and welcoming space is crucial, especially in light of recent public accountability movements in the tattoo community regarding sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. Our shop has been actively engaged in anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and Queer and Trans liberatory work within the industry for over 2 years.

The Rose Underground began as a small collective of Black tattoo artists and enthusiasts, emphasizing the excellence of Black tattoo artists. Our outreach efforts have expanded, offering workshops on working with diverse skin tones, photography techniques, and decolonial practices to reimagine the tattoo industry.

As The Rose Underground Tattoo Shop, we continue to redefine the Canadian tattoo landscape by prioritizing accountability and inclusivity. Our goal is to provide a platform for marginalized tattoo artists and create a welcoming space for all clients to receive quality tattoos. Building community relationships and supporting grassroots initiatives are integral to our ethos.

In our commitment to fostering opportunities, we also have a dedicated retail space within our shop for Black, Indigenous, racialized, Queer, and Trans artists and entrepreneurs to showcase their products. Vendor slots will be offered on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility.

Moreover, outside of business hours, we envision our shop as a community hub for events and workshops. Our goal is to offer affordable rates and prioritize initiatives supporting BIPOC, Trans, and Queer communities.