Aart Accent Tattoos, The Tattoo Shop Run By The First Black Female Tattoo Artist In America, Closes After 46 Years
By Sidra Lackey
On September 5, 2022, Labor Day, Jacci Gresham fittingly and unfortunately, closed the doors of her iconic tattoo shop Aart Accent Tattoos, in New Orleans. Aart Accent Tattoos was the oldest tattoo shop (that drew in famous clients like Alicia Keys and Tim McGraw) in Louisiana and owned by 75-years-young Jacci Gresham, who is credited with the amazing achievement of being the first Black female tattoo artist in America. She is also affectionately known as “The Godmother” (according to Think Before You Ink’s curator Richard “Made Rich” Parker) within the community of younger, rising and prominent Black tattoo artists within the tattoo industry who look up to her and her tattoo artistry.
Gresham interviewed with WWL-TV in May announcing Aart Accent’s closing would be “an end to an era,” as the building had already been sold and the new owners had plans for renovations. Aart Accent opened in March 1976 after Gresham moved from Detroit to New Orleans with her partner at the time, Ajit Singh. Gresham mused, “I'm about 20 years ahead of everybody else as far as time goes.” She and Singh wanted to open a tattoo shop but Gresham didn’t know how to tattoo and she also didn’t have any tattoos on her body. Gresham said, “My Mom wasn’t happy that I put tattoos on me, but I feel that if you’re in the industry you have to be part of that industry.” Gresham’s first tattoo was done by Ed Hardy, whose name needs no introduction. “He was one of the best in the country, but he was known for doing body suits and things like that. I was pretty scared of getting a big tattoo because it was unacceptable at the time. He did a Phoenix on me, teeny tiny bird like that,” Gresham gushed.
Gresham also said in her interview with WWL-TV on her learning to tattoo, “I felt like in order for me to learn, especially then, I had to dedicate some of my skin to learning and I did.” Gresham opening Aart Accent cemented her position within the tattoo industry, although the tattoo industry lacked Black tattoo artists. Gresham said that at Aart Accent, she made it a goal to make everyone feel at home when they entered her shop. “Black people have always wanted and gotten tattoos, but generally they were hand stuck tattoos. Going in the shop, we just weren’t comfortable.” Her good friend Faye, who worked at Aart Accent with Gresham for 40 years, praised Gresham, “Everybody didn't accept it, it was not accepted, and she taught people how to accept it. She taught people how to work on Black skin.”
Gresham reflected on Aart Accent Tattoos closing with WWL-TV, “For 46 years I’ve been here, you know. I think it will be missed but it seems like everything changes in time.” She said it is the end of an era but, “the revolution of one of New Orleans favorite characters. A character who will forever be tattooed in the hearts of many.”
Fortunately, Jacci Gresham is only in “semi-retirement” according to a recent Facebook post on the page of Aart Accent Tattoos. And, “She will be tattooing at her private studio after a short break.” That is really great news for those who still want to get tattooed by this legendary tattooist. A recent Instagram post on Aart Accent’s profile also states, “This is not the end. This is the beginning of a new ERA!!!” It will be very exciting to see what the future still holds for this remarkable woman and tattoo artist!