Why "Safe House"
Safe House Tattoo began in January 2012, originally as a private studio called Ian White Tattoos in Edgehill Village of Nashville. At the time, I thought working solo was the next right move. After nine years of working long, late, and inflexible hours, I wanted to be home in time for dinner. I wanted a life that made room for family, rest, and longevity in my career.
Opening a private studio was the first step in creating that kind of balance. But it didn’t take long for me to realize I was missing more than just artistic collaboration. I was also going through some deep personal changes and starting to confront parts of my life that needed healing. I realized I couldn’t do that work alone. I needed a healthier environment and a strong support system around me.
Later that year, the space next door opened up, and in October 2012, Safe House Tattoo was officially born. From the beginning, my vision was to create a space that felt safe - not just for clients, but for the artists working in it. A place where we could learn from each other, push our craft, and grow as artists and as people.
In creating a healthier work life for myself, I ended up creating a studio where other artists could do the same. At Safe House Tattoo Studio, artists have the freedom to focus on the styles and projects that resonate with them, and the flexibility to evolve without pressure to fit a mold. That balance not only supports their creativity and well-being, it leads to a better experience for every client who walks through the door.
Along the way, my wife Lindsay officially joined me as my business partner. We come at this work from different angles, and that’s part of what makes our collaboration work so well. I’m the idea person, good at getting things off the ground, and Lindsay knows how to make it better and build it to last.
Over the years, we relocated a few times as Nashville’s real estate market rapidly changed around us. Each move taught us something new and pushed us to stay true to what we were building. In 2019, we finally put down roots in the Inglewood neighborhood of East Nashville - just a couple miles from our home, in the heart of the community where we live and are raising our kids.
One of our former artists once called Safe House “fertile ground,” and that still feels like the highest compliment. It captured exactly what I set out to build, and what I hope to keep offering for years to come.
In 2024, we expanded by launching the Middle Tennessee Tattoo Expo. Even though we’re only heading into our second year, and still have so much to learn about putting on such a large show, our hope is that this event will become a permanent, long-term part of what we do at Safe House. The next Middle Tennessee Tattoo Expo will take place November 7–9, 2025, at The Fairgrounds Nashville. We’d love for you to be part of it.
- Ian White