Matthew is a must visit artist in the NY area, known for his bold American traditional, Japanese, pop culture themed tattoos and his witty online presence. Matthew has been tattooing for almost 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge to each appointment.

1. Please introduce yourself to us. “Hey, I am Matthew Fragner and also go by @matthew_inked. I own a shop called Pandora’s Box Tattoo Studio 171 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY 12466. I started tattooing in 2007 at the age of 18 right out of highschool when I was offered an apprenticeship by Michael Locasio at Ink Inc tattoo shop in Kingston, NY.”

2. What draws you to more American traditional and new school styles? “I’m drawn to any style as long as I know it can be tattooed well, heal and age well. So because of that I find myself more drawn to American tradition or Neo traditional. I like the saying “tattoos that look like tattoos.”

3. What artists inspire you the most, tattooers or not, dead or alive? “The first person to tattoo me was the one that made me want to tattoo. Phil luck gave me my first tattoo ever when he was working at Planet NY tattoo in Poughkeepsie, Ny and I was hooked after that and just wanted to get more tattoos and didn’t realize I could make money with my art doing tattoos so made me want to learn to tattoo!

There a handful of past giants I could name that have inspired me but they have also inspired a few generations as well. So no need to get too deep into that.

And current tattooer that has inspired me from the start of my tattoo journey till present is Filip Leu and his family.”

4. In your almost 20 years of tattooing how has technology changed the tattoo game and do you think change is good? (iPads for drawing, pen machines, ai being used more etc). “When I started the ship I learned at had a huge library of books, a printer/copier combo and a 3m thermofax. Everything was hand drawn or traced. Then I remembered getting a shop computer and laptop and was able to get larger collection of images and ideas. 

And fast forward to current times, I myself do have an iPad and use it when I want.

I have tried every machine style besides the early 00s air powered neumas bc they were too expensive for me at that time. But I learned on coils and still use them daily. But I have tried rotary’s that accept tube/needle on bar and they work just fine. Then cartridge needles came out, followed by pen machines and I tried them. I truly don’t like cartridge needles they’re very inconsistent and quality sucks. Pen machines work, I’ve tried but they ain’t for me. Main gripe is most can’t be taken apart after using to be properly cleaned and have to use cartridge needles.

Technology has made tattooing easier in many ways, some for the good and many for the worse. A lot of today’s tattooers can’t even draw and wouldn’t be able to do what they do without an iPad, internet and a fancy stencil machine. Also, seems hygiene is going backwards in tattooing in some areas due to it.”

5. If you had to tattoo only one motif again for the rest of your life what would it be? “I wouldn’t pick just one thing, never have and never will. Tattoos come and go in trends.”

6. Do you have any advice for people looking to get their first tattoo, or for those wanting to tattoo? “Do your research before hand for either.”

7. Anything else you would like to add? “If you’re good to tattooing, tattooing will be good to you.”