Dark Ornamental
Gothic Tattoos in River Falls, WI
Cathedral tracery, crowned figures, moths and bats, veils and daggers — dark ornamental tattooing in a vintage taxidermy studio full of oddities, curiosities, and framed original art.
Cathedral & Ornamental Work
Pointed arches, quatrefoils, rose windows, and filigree designed to wrap a forearm, stomach, or sleeve like architecture. Ornamental gothic work is about symmetry and negative space — we map it to your body before a single line goes in.
Dark Illustrative & Neo-Gothic
Crowned sorceresses, moth queens, gremlins, dragons, and Nosferatu — illustrative pieces rendered in black and grey with dotwork shading and heavy contrast, drawn custom rather than pulled from a sheet.
The Studio
Black Cat Tattoo is female owned and artist owned, run by four resident artists who all work in the dark end of the spectrum. The shop itself is part of the experience: taxidermy, curiosity cabinets, gilded mirrors, and a salon wall of framed flash.
What We Tattoo Most
- ✦Cathedral tracery & rose windows
- ✦Gothic portraiture & neo-gothic figures
- ✦Bats, moths, ravens & familiars
- ✦Victorian mourning & memorial pieces
- ✦Dark ornamental sleeves and back pieces
- ✦Occult and sacred geometry designs
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a gothic tattoo?
Gothic tattooing pulls from cathedral architecture, Victorian mourning imagery, dark romanticism, and the occult — tracery and rose windows, crowned figures, moths, bats, daggers, veils, and ornamental filigree, usually in black and grey.
Do you tattoo full gothic sleeves and back pieces?
Yes. Large ornamental and dark illustrative work is what our studio is built around. Big pieces are mapped out in a consultation and tattooed across multiple sessions so the flow wraps your arm, leg, or back correctly.
Can gothic tattoos be done in color?
Most of our gothic work is black and grey with dotwork shading, but our artists can add muted washes or neo-traditional color when the design calls for it. Bring reference images and we'll talk it through.
Which artists do gothic tattoos?
Ava works in blackwork and dark art, Karina in neo-traditional, blackwork and black and grey, AJ in fine line etching and high contrast blackwork, and London in blackwork. We also host traveling guest artists through the year.
How do I book a gothic tattoo?
We're appointment only. Email BlackCatTattooStudioInfo@gmail.com, call or text 715-410-3802, or send the appointment request form with reference images and placement photos. A non-refundable deposit secures your booking and applies to the final price.
Where is the studio?
124 N Riverwalk Aly, River Falls, WI — just off Main Street next to the Kinni River, roughly 30 minutes from the Twin Cities. Parking is easiest at Heritage Park, then a short walk across the bridge.
124 N Riverwalk Aly · River Falls, WI