Tattoos

Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists, was born in Emporia, Kansas. She joined a sideshow act with her sister until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and ran off to join the circus until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe. KCUR’s Julie Denesha and Mackenzie Martin explore Wagner’s journey and the permanent mark she left on the world.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and joined a sideshow act with her sister until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe.

One in eight American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime — requiring long and arduous treatments that change the way their body looks. A medical tattoo parlor in Columbia, Missouri, is offering a way to regain confidence, but insurance can get complicated.

Tattoo studios here in Kansas City are colorful environments, offering a sincere connection through unique art. Each one is stacked with several artists offering their own take on the form.

The majority of artists at the West Bottoms studio quit this week after finding out about a relationship between the owner and his much younger subordinate. The artists hope their walkout changes the Kansas City tattoo scene for the better.

For more than 40 years, Grimm Tattoo has made its home in Westport. But after a fire in April broke out in the building next door — destroying their furniture, equipment and flash designs — owner Wes Grimm decided it was time to move the tattoo shop and museum.

The old stereotype was that people with tattoos couldn't get good jobs, or were all thugs and criminals. Now, tattooing is a multi-billion-dollar industry.

After being based in Dallas for the last decade — and making tattoo trips across the region — Kinesha Glover opened Keno G Ink in the lower level of the 2000 Vine redevelopment project.