Nearly three decades of tattooing in the Black Hills. I built my reputation on taking on the tough ones. If it's technically demanding or deeply important, that's my lane.
A shop has multiple artists, flash on the walls, and a menu of options. A studio creates from scratch. Every piece at Thrash's Tattoo begins as a blank page and becomes commissioned artwork through a deliberate process of consultation and collaboration.
I work in many styles and consider myself a generalist. Portraiture, wildlife, landscapes, sci-fi and fantasy, Native American imagery, biker culture, and the Wild West. Both black and grey and color, as well as by hand with tebori. I hold space for pieces that utilize my experience to the fullest — not just scratch an itch, but put serious points on the board.
“Run your best ideas by me. I know a good one when I hear it.”
From first conversation to finished piece, every step is intentional.
Bring 3 to 5 ideas. We'll narrow the focus together, drawing on decades of pattern recognition to find the version with the most impact. Most of my clients aren't impulse decisions. They've thought about it. Waited on it. Earned it.
An hour at the drawing table transforms your vision into custom artwork. Stenciling, composition, and refinement. Clean execution and strong design are the focus. Every element serves the final composition before the first line is laid.
Up to six focused hours. No interruptions. The door is closed, the music plays, and your commissioned piece comes to life. When all the elements come together, the sessions are less fatiguing and heal faster.
My focus is clean execution, strong design, and getting the absolute most out of the canvas — whether it's a large project or a single piece that means everything.Matt Thrash — Artist & Proprietor, Est. 1997
One artist, one client, one focused day. If you come by and see cars there with the door closed, that's Matt inside with a client locked in and concentrating on their piece. No walk-ins. No interruptions.
Larger works unfold across multiple sessions, allowing each phase to breathe. Projects make both the artist's and client's world easier — the creative relationship is already built and we just keep building.
Custom metalwork, handcrafted jewelry, and hand-made tie dye garments. The studio is a creative workshop where multiple crafts converge under one roof.
Two weeks each year, the private studio concept expands. A handpicked team of guest artists joins Matt at Exit 55 for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally — walk-up sessions, custom flash, and the electric energy that only the world's biggest rally brings.
Think of it as the amuse-bouche. The rally introduces you to the craft. The studio is where the real work happens year-round.
Start with a consultation. Share your best ideas and let's find the one that becomes something extraordinary. I look forward to your requests and seeing what we can make of them.
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