Press release: Tattoo parlors merge, open in new Downtown location
ALBANY, NY: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held today, September 1, 2022, as two Capital City tattoo parlors merged and opened in a new downtown Albany location. Joining Owner William ‘Tragedy’ Yager and Downtown Albany Business Improvement District Executive Director Georgette Steffens in celebrating Modern Body Art’s new 54 N Pearl Street location were City of Albany Treasurer Darius Shahinfar, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Albany County Policy Analyst Joe Bonarrigo, and County Legislator Sam Fein.
It was a lifelong interest in the tattooing industry and admiration for the work of its artists that led Yager to first open Modern Body Art on Howard Street in October of 2009, and a dedication to the community that has long supported his many businesses - including Patsy’s Barbershop, Lucky Cat Laundromat, and Bull & Bee Meadery - that keeps him in Downtown. Albany’s Central Social District has evolved significantly since he first opened the doors, and Yager noted that while Downtown has always been the heart of Albany, the growth of residential only served to solidify his dedication to the area. Modern Body Art’s new location is situated within a mixed-use building with apartments above the shop, and is within steps of the large-scale residential conversions happening along State and N Pearl Streets.
The new shop represents the merging of two parlors owned by Yager - Modern Body Art, most recently located on S Pearl Street, and Shocker Tattoo, previously located on Lark Street - with artists from the Lark Street shop relocating to Downtown. The 54 N Pearl Street location offered the opportunity for a post-pandemic reset and merger with the 920-square-foot space featuring a modern design, cathedral ceilings, new tattoo chairs, and more room to feature art on the walls.
The overwhelmingly positive reaction from both artists and clients adds to the business' appeal, said Yager, who attributes the success of Modern Body Art to the 90 years of combined experience that master piercer Gina Carbone and tattoo artists Carli Cass, Courtney Covino, Jeff Ortega, and Andrew Quintois bring to their clients and the neighborhood. Their work, Yager added, is being represented on a growing number of people coming in for piercings and tattoos. Everyone from college students to senior citizens are getting their first tattoos at Modern Body Art, as acceptance for the art form has grown significantly in recent decades. As an industry, tattooing has a market size of over $3 billion in the US, with the number of Americans with tattoos growing nine percent between 2012 and 2019, according to market research firm Ipsos.
Appointments at Modern Body Shop are made with individual artists themselves. New and returning clients are encouraged to visit the shop’s website at albanymodernbodyart.com to learn more, and to visit the Instagram accounts for master piercer Gina Carbone, and tattoo artists Carli Cass, Courtney Covino, Jeff Ortega, and Andrew Quintois to view portfolios and to schedule appointments.
Modern Body Art Owner William ‘Tragedy’ Yager said: "Downtown has been our home for over a decade and we are grateful to the community for their support and trust in our shop. Our goal has always been to create a welcoming environment whether you are here for your first piercing or tattoo, or your twentieth. We invite you to come in and speak to our artists and join the family of clients who keep coming back thanks to the professionalism and incredible artistic talent represented here and in our previous locations. Thank you to Chris Pratt for this beautiful space and for helping us to get up and running in just a matter of weeks, and to all of the clients who’ve already come and supported our new location.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said: “Tragedy is a long time business owner and wonderful steward of services and hospitality in Albany and we are delighted to welcome Modern Body Art to Downtown. This tattoo parlor is one of four downtown Albany based businesses for Tragedy and its relocation will surely increase the already loyal customer base and bring more people into downtown Albany to take advantage of all that it has to offer. I want to thank Tragedy for his continued investment in Albany and recognize the hard working Downtown Albany BID team for supporting existing and new business owners in downtown Albany.”
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said: "Congratulations to Modern Body Art on the ribbon cutting of their new location! Modern Body Art has been a downtown Albany attraction for years, providing visitors and residents with a wide range of options from tattoos to piercings. A vital member of downtown Albany's vibrant business community, I can't wait to see their success!"
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said: “So much of what you see in Albany is because of the vision of Tragedy as an entrepreneur and his commitment to offering new amenities to the community, and today’s grand opening is the latest example of that. Modern Body Art is a staple in the world of tattooing, as their artists attract customers from around New York and even outside of the state, and I’m thrilled to see this business continue to thrive. The fact that Modern Body Art is combining with Shocker Tattoo at this new location is a testament to how far this neighborhood has come over the last two years. I want to extend my congratulations to Tragedy and I can’t wait to see what he does next.”
Albany County Legislator Sam Fein said: "I'm happy to welcome Modern Body Art to its new location here on North Pearl Street. Creative artists contribute so much to the culture and economy of our city and county. Thank you Tragedy for all you do for downtown Albany and our region as a whole."
Property owner Chris Pratt said: "My business partner, George Mahoney, and I are excited to welcome Modern Body Art to our building. We believe this establishment fits perfectly with all the other unique and eclectic businesses in downtown Albany. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with the ownership.”
Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens said: "As we approach the completion of Downtown's 1000th apartment, Albany's Central Social District continues to attract residents who are seeking everything from haircuts to fitness classes to tattoos of Albany's skyline itself. Our businesses are destinations in and of themselves, serving to attract diversifying residential and daytime employee bases, and the commitment shown by Downtown entrepreneurs to provide high-quality services to these folks is truly inspiring. Trag represents a growing number of Downtown Stakeholders who represent the solid, loyal customer base that occurs thanks to a dedication not only to operating a world-class business, but also seeking to lift up the community through advocacy, events, and daily positive interactions."
Located at 54 N Pearl Street, Modern Body Art is open seven days a week from Noon-8:00 PM. Additional information can be found at albanymodernbodyart.com or by calling 518.426.TAT2 (8282). For updates follow the shop on Facebook at facebook.com/AlbanyModernBodyArt and Instagram at instagram.com/albanymodernbodyart.
