Body Art With Heart

Award-winning artistry. Family atmosphere. Civil service. Public-health education. And … tattoos?

That's right. And at Dragon Moon Tattoo Studio all these elements are taken very seriously, embodied most by owner and artist, Mick Michiele-Beasley, a petite, vivacious woman with a laugh and demeanor that sets one instantly at ease.

If this doesn't sound like your typical tattoo parlor, it's because it's not. This is the tattoo parlor. And it's called Glen Burnie home since its inception in 1978, moving only once, just a few doors down from its current spot on Crain Highway.

"When we opened up, we were the only professional shop in the area. Now there are more than 400," Michiele-Beasley said. "But just because the signs might say 'tattoos' on the front of all these places, that doesn't mean there are actual artists in there. Customers need to really do their homework and make educated decisions [when choosing a tattooist]."

Michiele-Beasley doesn't only offer advice for potential clients; she works to improve the Glen Burnie area as a whole. She is a member of the North Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, The Glen Burnie Town Center Advisory Committee and served as secretary of the Glen Burnie Merchants Association.

"Glen Burnie is a working-class town and we like it that way. It's safe, friendly and down-to-earth, and it always has been," Michiele-Beasley. "I just like to be sure that people with the power to change our neighborhood are using common sense, thinking about the people that live here and [not just their] political agendas … we raised our family here, after all."

Walking into the reception area of Dragon Moon, the atmosphere is simplistic and warm, exceptionally clean, professional and comfortable. The wall behind the front desk showcases a number of national awards, acknowledgements and framed press clippings all testifying to the outstanding quality of both Michiele-Beasley and her husband, Tom Beasley's, contributions to the world of skin-art. The couple owns the studio together.

There are awards for their work and their personal collections, as well as acknowledgements from Glen Burnie's Professional Fire Fighters and a youth baseball team—the Seahawks—that Dragon Moon sponsored.

Michiele-Beasley's passion for tattooing, as well as community well-being extend beyond her artistic works and political activism. Educating the public about health is important to her as well. She published a paper titled "Preventing Disease Transmission in Tattooing," offers free, public monthly seminars on preventing microbial invasion and co-wrote the guidelines for safe tattooing for the Food and Drug Administration.

"This is really a buyer beware market," she said. "There's a lot of hacks out there that make a bad name for the art, the business and the people that choose to wear tattoos."

Dragon Moon has found a way to stand head and tattooed-shoulders above the rest, creating an inspiring, informed, and family-friendly atmosphere, both inside their doors, and out.


Dragon Moon Tattoo Studio is operated by Michiele-Beasley, her husband Tom Beasley, son Jacob Pinsky and artist Adam Harrison.