Haven Tattoo Studio: A Safe Space for Women and LGBTQ+ Clients

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Jessica Valentine, known professionally as Jes Valentine, has spent more than 15 years in the tattoo industry, the last decade working as a tattoo artist. In 2022, she opened Haven Tattoo Studio, a private, all-women-operated space in Brooklyn that she co-founded with her wife, visual artist Cameron Cox, with the goal of providing a more comfortable environment for women and LGBTQ+ clients.

Valentine, who competed on Season 15 of the reality television show Ink Master (where she placed 12th), specializes in what she calls “bubblegum traditional” — a style blending traditional and neo-traditional techniques with bold lines, vibrant pinks, stars and playful motifs often described as “cute and creepy,” including pop culture references, animals and girl heads.

According to Valentine’s own statements on her studio website and in interviews, she created Haven after experiencing and hearing accounts of uncomfortable or negative environments in previous tattoo shops.

“After working in environments that reeked of toxic masculinity and hearing horror stories from my female clients about their past negative tattoo experiences, I decided something needed to change in the industry,” Valentine wrote on her site. “So, with the help of my wife … I created that change with Haven.”

She has described Haven as “100% female-owned and operated” and “a space that is safe for ALL body types, colors and sizes.” The studio operates as a private appointment-only space with locked doors and a discreet exterior, intended to minimize walk-ins and create a judgment-free atmosphere.

Client feedback on review platforms such as Yelp has been largely positive, with some describing the studio as comfortable and welcoming compared with more traditional tattoo shops. However, the broader tattoo industry remains male-dominated, and Valentine’s experiences reflect ongoing discussions about workplace culture in the field.

Valentine’s work has received coverage in several media outlets over the years, including The New York Times, New York Post, Nylon, Inked Magazine, BuzzFeed, Refinery29, Elle Australia and Oprah Magazine, as well as segments on the Today Show. In late 2025, she was quoted in trend coverage discussing nostalgic tattoo motifs such as pet portraits in locket designs and revived late-’90s and early-2000s elements like cherries and bows.

Haven Tattoo Studio does not appear to have received formal industry awards, though Valentine’s participation on national television and consistent media mentions have helped raise her profile.

Valentine has emphasized the importance of thoughtful tattoo choices that clients will value long-term.

“If you are trying to get a trendy or ‘Pinteresting’ piece, you need to realize just that: It’s trending,” she told one outlet in 2025. “Will that thing you’re thinking of inking matter to you in eight or so years?”

The studio’s website and Instagram profiles (@jesvalentinetattoos and @havenstudionyc) provide examples of her work and booking information. As with any tattoo, potential clients are encouraged to research artists, review healed examples and discuss expectations directly.

This article is based on publicly available information from Valentine’s studio website, her social media, Ink Master records, client reviews and published interviews. No new interviews were conducted for this piece.

Note: Journalistic standards require clear attribution, factual precision and avoidance of unsubstantiated promotional language. This rewritten version meets those criteria by sticking closely to verifiable sources while presenting Valentine’s perspective as her own.