Spitfire Tattoo & Gallery

I went into this tattoo place to see if I could aument the light brown freckles I have and get a little Marilyn Monroe dot next to my nose. It was a wonderful experience. The aesthetic is very calm and elegant with an edge. The tattoo artist, and I guess the guy that owns the place is so nice and kind of attractive. He talked me off the ledge of getting a darker color that would have looked way less natural to one that fits my skin tone pretty perfectly. It was a great experience, super comfortable, clean, and the music was actually good. Highly recommend!

Very nice studio! Sterile environment and Ryan will definitely put you at ease if its your first tattoo. Great guy to talk to while hes working on your design - down to Earth. I am beyond pleased with my tattoo and Ryan listened to what I wanted and drew up the concept of my idea to perfection. Im happy so much that I go back on September 3rd for another one. Professional - detailed oriented and a true artist! You will be completely taken care of from start to finish.

I had to come leave a review after my appointment today. Spitfire is absolutely amazing. The atmosphere they have created is so comfortable, and welcoming. I booked an appointment with Scott, and he excelled my expectations. I got three different tattoos, and every single one is more than what I could imagine. In fact he hand drew the tattoo below! You can tell he truly loves his work. Not only was his work amazing, his attitude during the hour was upbeat, and talkative. Thank you Spitfire, and Scott I will see you next time!

Spitfire was recommended by a friend and I will definitely be returning! It’s a great atmosphere with friendly artists and I was very pleased with my tattoo!

Spitfire Tattoo is one of the best tattoo studios I’ve been in. The staff are very helpful, and the studio is immaculate & inviting. Ryan and Scott have a plethora of experience tattooing and it shows. I would highly recommend Spitfire to anyone and I do!

This was a really clean, cool and talented place! I got my anti-tragus pierced here to see if it would help for motion sickness and Chris was very professional and knew exactly what he was doing! I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking to get a new piercing or tattoo!

What a beautiful tattoo shop! Ryan Whitson is an amazing owner and artist, and I will follow Scott Wiecek just about anywhere he goes. Just got my 3rd tattoo from Scott and I am always in love! Highly recommend - clean, professional, great guys!!!! Oh, and plan to buy some artwork while you are there. Don Whitsons art is phenomenal!!!!

ACME piercing was booked and we were directed to come here as my future sister-in-law likes piercings and we were in town for her bachelorette. Chris was absolutely wonderful! Several of us got piercings and he handled our group antics like a champ. He really helped as one person in our group was quite nervous. Chris was super informative and personable. I have several piercings and this was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Would highly recommend!

Awesome shop! Very clean and modern. I drive 2 hours one way to get work done here every few months, and it’s always worth it.

Chris pieced my children’s ears and was absolutely amazing. He was kind, fast, gentle, considerate and wonderful to work with. My daughter is 5 and my son is 10. I would recommend Chris to any parent who is thinking of letting their kids get a piercing! The shop is spotless and the staff are great! Highly recommend!

After almost ten years of going to Wes and Ryan, I’m not going back. The art is undeniable, but the customer service has been inconsistent (to say the least) for years.It has culminated in a terrible conversation I had with Ryan where he confronted me in front of onlookers for rescheduling multiple times, even though I can’t help it if I lost a family member, moved twice, got COVID, and wanted to prioritize a much needed vacation over a tattoo all in the same 7 month period. He insisted it was 4-5 times, but I only remember three, and obviously I don’t have a way to challenge that. And this is despite giving over a month’s notice for each reschedule, and a long history of consistency and professional respect on my part. It really hurt - this was the year from hell, and I evangelize for these guys all the time. The least he could’ve done was let it be a private conversation.They also book you for a four hour session regardless of the size and complexity for a piece. His ultimatum was to pay $800 up front to book again (200/hr), for a tattoo that was smaller and less complex than other pieces I’ve gotten from him. I’m no longer a good fit for this shop.I wish them well. I recommend Wes.

I was so happy with my experience getting pierced here today! Chris and his apprentice were incredibly kind and helpful. It was my second time ever getting pierced, so I was a bit nervous going into it, but I felt like I was in really good hands and felt comfortable asking questions. Thanks for the great service!

Chris pierced my daughters ears today and she had an amazing experience. Eight hrs later and she has no pain, no swelling and feels confident in her ability to care for her piercings. His apprentice was also lovely, the environment was great, and I had to hold myself back from buying art.One thing I really appreciated didnt happen with us, but the child ahead of us. The child was having child feet and Chris took time, and then told the family to go get lunch and come back when she was ready. He and his apprentice told her there were times they werent ready and came back after food or a different day. I love how supportive and nonjudgmental they were and I know it helped my daughter feel more confident.

Chris gave me a double helix piercing with fun, swiftness and precision and also helped open two helix rings in my other ear that had been stuck for 4 years (I never took my starters out…). Mystic Tattoo, where I got my first piercings, recommended Spitfire to me when I arrived and their piercer had been out. I don’t recall her name (sorry!) but the lovely lady (red/pink hair) at the counter was also really pleasant to talk with here at Spitfire.The studio is clean with awesome music and a family friendly atmosphere—saw lots of little girls with lobe piercings prancing around (and playing on their awesome arcade game machine!).Bonus—the earrings they use have flat backs instead of the butterfly backs which makes for easy care/cleaning and less irritation. I’ve had a lot of piercings and this is the first time I’ve been to a studio that used those flat backed earrings and I love them. 10/10 will come again! —-Jackie M

Spitfire tattoo is the cleanest shop I’ve ever been to! The staff is very professional and extremely informative

Spitfire Tattoo and Gallery exceeded my expectations! Scott did an exceptional job with my frog tattoo, its spot on. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the curated artwork adds to the charm. A fantastic experience all the way!

Ryan Whitson at Spitfire was amazing! This was my first tattoo and he walked me through each step. He was great with the collaboration aspect but honestly, his work speaks for itself. The whole team is talented, but Ryans style was the best fit for my plans. If you choose Spitfire, be sure to book early because they do great work!

Chris did a wonderful job with my daughters ear piercing, he was really patient and explained everything to her as he went. The owner, Ryan, was incredibly kind and I really appreciated all he did to make our experience great! Highly recommend:)

I have received multiple tattoos from the owner Ryan. Spitfire Tattoo is unequivocally the best tattoo shop in Charlottesville including the shops that have (Ben Around). If you want to experience superior artistry and phenomenal customer service, you need to check out Spitfire Tattoo. You will not be disappointed.

I went to spitfire tattoo and gallery and had one of the best experiences I’ve had with a tattoo shop. The owner Ryan was super to work with. He had my tattoo drawn up and I threw him for a loop and switched some things up on him. He handled it like a true pro and had it done in no time flat. Great guy and very talented. My tattoo turned out better than I pictured it. Very cool and comfortable aesthetic in the shop. Also Ryan’s dad has great water color art for sell that dons every wall. Very talented artist (must run in the family) the rest of the staff were very pleasant and accommodating. 5 out of 5 stars!!! If your looking for a place to get inked up... you gotta check this place out!

Took my daughter to get her ears pierced by Chris. He and his apprentice did a fantastic job making my daughter feel as comfortable as possible. She is about to turn 5 and was very nervous. Chris and his apprentice reassured her that it would be quick and essentially painless.My daughter didnt shed a tear. I highly recommend them.

This is my favorite tattoo shop. Ryan and everyone else are extremely talented and super easy to work with. I’m so happy with the work that Ryan did for me. Highly recommend this place!

Stumbling around for many years at tattoo shops I found myself searching after a very unpleasant experience and was referred here. Scott had just started here and he jumped right in to help me. I have never had a better experience then I just had in this shop. The shop is managed as a professional shop should without egos or attitude making everyone feel comfortable. Scott is amazing best experience I have ever had with any tattooist and feel like I just hit the lottery. I am a small business owner myself and appreciate a job well done, but this is past well done its amazing.

5 stars for the guy who did the piercing for my family and myself. Very professional and helpful!3 stars because without the good experience for the aforementioned gentlemen and the great attitude of the receptionist, it would be 1 star. My family and I, unfortunately, got covid and needed to reschedule our tattoo appointment. Well, we never got a call back to reschedule. We made 3 attempts to reschedule with Scott... its been 2 months. Still, nothing. I would have been fine with I cant reschedule because of blank but I didnt get anything! Im sorry we got covid and didnt want to spread it in your shop? I dont care about being 50 short but I really wanted the tattoo. Thanks for the piercings though.

I was on vacation and another tattoo shop actually recommended this place for piercings. The shop is spotless with lots of open space. Got a belly button piercing from Ariel who was extremely knowledgeable and informative! She kept adjusting the mark to make sure it would fit with my anatomy and explained everything she was doing. It has a separate room for piercings so its private. I wouldnt hesitate to get any other piercing from her and I definitely recommend this shop to anyone looking for a professional, clean, and wonderful experience!

Today was my first time going in Spitfire. I was so impressed with how clean and nice it is! Everyone we interacted with was nice and friendly. Chris was really nice to my daughter when she got too scared and decided to wait and pierce her ears another day. Chris did an excellent job with my piercing. Highly recommend!

I went to get my second ear lobe piercings with 2 of my friends, who were also getting piercings (second piercings for one and helix for the other). They were able to fit us into their schedule last minute, which we really appreciated. Ariel was extremely knowledgeable and skilled and the piercings all came out amazing. This place is new and clean, and the employees we interacted with were all professional and friendly. I will definitely be back if I need more piercings done!

I had an awesome piercing experience with Chris. He was very friendly, answered all of my questions, and placed my rook piercing perfectly. Would recommend!

Ariel is awesome - super knowledgeable, professional, and personable! She answered all my questions and did an amazing job on my nose piercing - I’d go back to her fir any future piercings and recommend her to friends in a heartbeat. Spitfire is clean, inviting, and all the people I interacted with were friendly and helpful - already planning to go back for a tattoo. Excited to have this shop in town!

Ryan is the most professional artist Ive worked with. Hes been working on a sleeve for me for years. His creativity, honesty, and willingness to work with his clients is exceptional. If you have an idea of what you want, but arent quite able to put it into words, he will help you conceptualize it right there. The new shop feels more open and welcoming than any shop Ive been in. Check out their social media for all the portfolios and quality work!

Ive had 2 appointments with Scott and cannot recommend him enough! He took my idea and ran with it and I am IN LOVE with the tattoos he has given me. If you are looking for a clean and professional tattoo shop, look no further!

Awesome place to get ink. The shop has a timeless and classic vibe. It was VERY clean and fresh over every inch of the shop. The bathroom was spotless. They are highly professional and talented artist. I got a simple black line design, but I will most definitely be back for a more colorful traditional American style tattoo here very soon. I was very satisfied with this place and happy I found a shop that fits my style. This shop is definitely one of the top shops in Charlottesville and is filled with good artist all around. I highly recommend checking them out if you are looking for a great local shop.

Stopped in and was greeted very professionally. They answered my questions and explained scheduling and appointment process and how far out they were booked. Sat and went through some books on display that had various tattoos that the artist have done and they are very detailed. Some very nice art work. I am interested in returning to get something done once I get my ideas together and present it to the artist to insure it can be done.

My son wanted his ears pierced and we used this business. Very clean location. The gentleman that did my son’s piercings was extremely professional and very good at calming my son’s fears. I was incredibly impressed with this place and would definitely recommend!

I have always trusted Ryan to do my tattoos. Clean and crisp work, bold colors, beautiful line work—every single time. 100% recommend. And his new shop is seriously impressive. Well done, all around.

We took our daughter to have her ears pierced for her 10th birthday. Chris @chrismpiercing was amazing with her. Shes a bit of a nervous Nelly. He explained everything that he was going to do and then he helped her calm down. He was so kind and caring to an emotional little girl. My daughter was beyond thrilled with her new earrings. She told me that Mr Chirs was amazing and I second that!!

Great experience--Chris pierced my young daughters ears, and not a tear was shed. He was great at explaining the process to her, and his bedside manner was excellent. I really appreciate the care he took with her.

Chris did my 4 yr old daughters ears. He explained the whole process which made my daughter extremely comfortable . She was pretty scared before we came, she had no tears and she even said she lovess getting her ears peirced now.

Johanna did a great job I am very happy she did a tattoo for me and my sister got us both taken care of at a reasonable price and scott even gave a consultation for a cover up I need. Do not hesitate to go see them. Nice vibe and great work!

Spitfire Tattoo is currently home to the most professional, straightforward, and meticulous piercer in the Charlottesville area, Ariel Mason. Ariel has been doing my piercings for over three years now (including surface piercings, oral piercings, and genital piercings) all of which she has taken extensive care of from the moment I walked into the shop, to this very day. I have a lot of anxiety, especially when I know I’m going to be in pain, but Ariel’s calm and kind demeanor, and the way she explains everything so clearly has always put me at ease. A lot of piercers seem to care much more about your money and getting you in and out of the shop quickly than they do your body and your piercing, but that’s not the case with Ariel. She has absolutely no issue turning down any “trendy” non viable piercings that cause damage to your body (google “snake eyes” piercing) while making sure she takes the time to explain to you exactly why those piercings are so harmful. She gives a thorough consultation where she discusses your piercing goals, any risks involved, and your anatomy, and if those things are just not compatible, she goes out of her way to find another option for you to make sure you leave happy, pierced, and educated. A true gift to the piercing world.

Best New Tattoo Shop in C-ville, modern, clean and welcoming. Ryan was the artist who worked on my tattoo. It turned out very detailed and badass, I will be returning for a full sleeve and more future artwork.

I have been to a number of shops where I was pierced incorrectly or given the wrong jewelry. Not only does Ariel and her boss know how to pierce in anatomically correct places depending on your individual bod, but they have also corrected previous piercings that werent placed correctly. I recently got a transverse piercing by Ariel and I can honestly say it didnt hurt and healed faster than any piercing Ive gotten in the past. Im scrambling to think of something else to pierce just because I want to go back!

By far, the best tattoo place I’ve been to. The shop is really nice, very clean and Ryan is AWESOME. He did a fantastic job on my tattoo.

Went in and got a surface anchor done by Ariel and it was quick and painless for me. I love it! Everyone was nice and very responsible with Covid precautions. I’ll be going back for more! It’s also right next to C-ville coffee so you can get a treat before or after your appointment if you need to keep your blood sugar in check.

First time here yesterday. I have known scott for a very longgg time. I traveled from va beach to come see him. His work, skills, professionalism is beyond fabulous!! People ask me why would i travel that far...he is why!!! Please check out the pics...the establishment was awesome...friendly, super clean!!!! Please go check them out and ask for scott

This is by far the cleanest and nicest tattoo shop I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Ryan does great work and is always professional and accommodating. I will be back

Have been to couple tattoo places but non compare to spitfire as they raise the bar for what quality service and tattoo should be Scott is my go to guy dude brings things to life and is very talented look no further when needing ink then spitfire !

Fantastic tattoo work done by Ryan! Can’t recommend this place more!

I am loving the new shop, it is clean, spacious and beautiful! Ryan did a great job bringing my idea to life and adding to my design to make it even better- I cant thank him enough!

I got my nose pierced by Ariel recently and they were amazing. She was quick and professional, and she talked me through the process which really helped.

There was a mix up with my appointment time and Ryan went above and beyond to accommodate me. As always, Ryans work is fantastic.

Scott did an amazing job with my tattoo! He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly during the appointment!

Beautiful new shop. Ryan is a talented and professional artist. I’ve been going to him for years, and I’ll keep coming back.

Scott is the man!! Amazing work, clean and just an amazing experience! Scott is hands down the best artist in VA

Best tattoo place! Very clean, friendly, on time with appointment and listened to exactly what I wanted. I highly recommend this place!❤️

Ryan is a lovely human and amazing artist, the shop is extremely clean, artists and piercers are all friendly.

The artists and piercers are very receptive and make sure their clients are happy with the work they get done.

Come check out the shop! Versatile artists and a clean, friendly environment. Tattoos & piercings & fine art by local artists. 👍🏼👍🏼

Johanna Valentine was so nice and did a beautiful job with our groups tattoos!

Not yet finished but my god scott is the truth !!! I love it... stay tuned 😉

Awesome customer service. Immaculately clean. Love my tattoo.

Scott did a great job on leg piece, would go again.

Great atmosphere! Great artists! Best tattoo shop around!

The best in Charlottesville ver professional ink work.

Sadies print done by Ryan

Had an excellent experience here, excited to go back.

Love it here. Great Quality & friendly service.

Great people that do great work👍🏾👍🏾💪🏾

Great tattoo by Scott

Everything was amazing!!!

Ryan rules