Co-Owner Archives - Westminster Tattoo Company (410) 857-2342

Beth Kennedy

I’ve been tattooing for over 25 years. I’m experienced, reliable, multi faceted, and I stay quite busy with all sizes & types of custom work. My preferred style is bright & colorful but I also love to do delicate black & grey work, too! I will always do my best to ensure that every tattoo is a unique experience in order to tempt you into coming back for more!

I have a BFA in Sculpture & Design from S.U.N.Y. Purchase but I never dreamed I’d end up using my Fine Arts degree in the tattoo industry. I apprenticed shortly after graduating in 1991. While I’m originally from New York, my apprenticeship was done in Florida and the first half of my career was spent working in northern New Jersey.

Powerhouse Tattoo in Montclair was very small and very popular~ we cranked out panthers, roses, and names all day and into the night. Working for Diane Farris at Powerhouse taught me an invaluable lesson: how to be strong and self-reliant in an extremely fast paced and cramped environment.

Diane had apprenticed under the famous tattooer, Spider Webb, and through her, I was able to mingle with many of the established figures of the East & West Coast historical tattoo scenes like: Mike Perfetto, Stanley and Walter Moskowitz , Coney Island Freddie, Tony Polito, Philadelphia Eddie, Mike Wilson, Dave Gibson, Tony Edwards, Freddy Negrette, Mark Mahoney, and the list goes on. Old school ethics ran strong in that crowd and I still live by them today. Thanks Diane!

Fun fact: Powerhouse Tattoo is now owned by Krooked Ken of Maryland and Eddie Peralta of Puerto Rico. They’ve turned it into a retro style traditional tattoo shop!

I moved to Maryland in 2001 to get married to a guy who happened to be in a band with world famous tattoo artist Dave Waugh. Dave introduced me to Vinnie Myers and I went to work at Little Vinnie’s Tattoos in Finksburg alongside Aaron Cain, Uncle Pauly, Eric Gregory, Brady Duncan, and “the other” Dave Wah.

It was there that I developed the loyal clientele base that I cherish so much today. After 11 years tattooing at Little Vinnies, almost every single one of you all followed me to Baltimore Street Tattoo in Westminster. That was a good four year run but, unfortunately, that shop has now closed and the next chapter in my tattoo career book has opened…

I am currently working by appointment (and will take walk ins when possible) here at my new shop: Westminster Tattoo Company, in Westminster Maryland. My schedule varies so just contact me directly for more information, thank you!

SO honored to be included on this list of Best Tattoo Artists in Baltimore!

Forever grateful to Kristen Brooks for making this happen and to all the fantastic people who let me “make pretty pictures all over them”, thank you!

Kristen Brooks

Kristen Brooks: Collector of Tattoos & Antiques, Vice President of Alger Electric, Mother of Bella.

How did you get into getting tattooed?
“I didn’t grow up in a family of tattooed people, but when I was in high school I did have a boyfriend who was old enough to get tattooed and he was getting worked on by Vinnie Myers in Westminster. I was so inspired by the quality of the art that I knew I had to have one, too.”

How old were you when you got your first tattoo?
“I waited until I was 18 to get it even though I knew what I wanted for 3 years. I’ve added to my tattoo collection quite a bit over the years and it’s so encouraging to see other professionals, in many different industries, with lots of visible tattoos. It’s become so much more acceptable now, it’s no longer just society’s fringe groups with tattoos, it’s become the norm to see young women with full sleeves. As a tattooed person, a Mom, and especially as a tattoo shop owner, I feel that such an important decision is best made as a legal adult. That’s why we decided to not do any tattoos on anyone under the age of 18 at Westminster Tattoo Company.”

What was your first tattoo?
“I got my very first tattoo in 1995 at Little Vinnie’s Tattoos by Matt Presti. It’s an image of 2 hands holding the world and it serves as a reminder to me that I can do anything or be anything I want in this world, I just have to go out and do it.”

What do you like to do?
“I run my family’s commercial electric business full time as well as raise my teenage daughter. She keeps me busy and we travel a lot together. I’ve visited many tattoo shops in both the US & abroad. Seeing so many people expressing themselves around the world in so many different ways is amazing and really beautiful. When I was married, I had a side business dealing antiques in Ellicott City. I still love collecting them and I’ve brought some very unique pieces into shop to decorate, including some Victorian furniture and taxidermy from Steve Irwin’s ranch in Australia. Obviously, I also like getting tattooed. I’ve been getting tattooed by Beth Kennedy for the past 4 years. She came highly recommended, I sent her an email for a consult, and the rest is history.”

How did you get here?
“I never thought I’d be owner of a tattoo shop, it never entered my mind, but here I am and I’m so excited about it! I’m so happy to have something that is truly my own, and to have a great partner to do it with.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
“I see our shop growing to the point where in 5 years our neighbors will have moved out and we’ll need to expand to the left and right. We have a very bright future here, I’m excited, it’s going to be amazing.”

Got any advice for someone who wants a tattoo?
“My advice to anyone looking to get tattooed is this: You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to tattoos and quality work doesn’t come cheap. Reputations are important and so is experience. In the case of our shop, we are brand new on the block, but all of the artists that work here have an average of 25 years experience in the industry. Do your research and ask around, being spontaneous can be fun, but tattoos are forever and worth the wait.”