New Age Tattoos and Body Piercings has once again won best tattoo shop in Springfield, and another of the parlor's tattoo artists, Jesse Flock, has been voted the best tattoo artist. Established in 1998 and currently located on Wabash Avenue, New Age Tattoos is owned by professional tattoo artist Jason Lee, and has a professional piercer and four other tattoo artists on staff.
The business website describes it as "one of the cleanest and friendliest shops in town." The tattoo artists are so popular that most are booked weeks, if not months, in advance, although walk-in tattooing (palm-size or smaller) is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Wednesday. Piercings are done on a walk-in basis Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
New Age gives back to the community through various events such as hosting blood drives and the annual Tats for Tails, where the tattoo artists donate their fees to Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control. At the most recent fundraiser, held earlier this month, the artists completed 70 tattoos and raised $8,750 for the cause.
A former design student at Lincoln Land Community College, Jesse Flock became apprenticed to New Age Tattoos owner Jason Lee in 2017 and has been working as a professional tattoo artist since then, specializing in anime and neo-traditional tattooing. Flock's portfolio of tattoo work is viewable through his Instagram account, @brokeass_tattoo, where the progression of the artist's skill development can be seen through posts of completed tattoos over time.
"I want to give a big thank you to all the people who have helped me in my career, as well as those who have let me tattoo them," Flock said in an Instagram post at the end of 2023. "It means so much to me, the amount of trust I have been given..."
