Melissa L. Conley

tattoo artist & Tattoo shop owner

So I bet you’re wondering how I became the nerdy, silly, socially awkward tattoo artist I am today, right? Well buckle up friends, because I’m not holding back!
I grew up in Williamstown, New Jersey. Born in 1996. I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember! In fact, as long as I CAN I remember, I used to love watching Disney movies as a child, trying to draw my favorite characters from the screen onto paper. I’ve always felt a sort of catharsis while drawing, especially when color is involved!
I really began to take my art seriously in 2014/2015, right around the time I graduated high school and moved across the country to Oceanside, California. i spent about 3.5 years there and about another year and some change in San Antonio, Texas as well! I’d like to say I was doing something cool there, but alas. I simply made poor life choices and had a failed military marriage.
However I found the silver lining in a difficult situation. With all the experience points I had gained from being on my own so young, making connections with other artists and mentors, living somewhere different than where I grew up - it opened up my world so much. I no longer wanted to be sitting alone at a desk drawing, feeling depressed and sorry for myself. My divorce made me long for some kind of human connection.
In 2020, I shared my work to a local township group on Facebook and was picked up by a small tattoo studio in Clayton, NJ. This is where I did my apprenticeship and fell in love all over again, this time with the craft of tattooing.
I spent the first 3.5 years of my career tattooing at Sinful Art Tattoo, but it was always my dream to venture out and found my own studio one day. I just didn’t know enough and I didn’t know where to begin and besides I felt much too new to the industry to feel comfortable venturing out solo style.
In 2022, I met my partner Kyle (well, technically we re-met)
By this time, I really had lost interest in dating and felt just about ready to give up to focus 100% on my tattooing. Life has a funny way of surprising you sometimes! Kyle and I grew up in the same neighborhood together and even attended school together. As kids grow older and go off to their own separate friend groups in high school, we drifted apart. But our shared love for video games, anime and movies reunited us!
In November of 2023, we purchased a home near the Hammonton area. It is my dream home! But it was a bit of hike from the shop I was working at during the time. It didn’t take me long until I was burnt out driving over an hour to get to work every day. By May of 2024, i had already put four years into tattooing and it just so happened the perfect rental had opened up in the downtown area of Hammonton where we live!

In June of 2024, with a ton of help from my partner Kyle, I achieved my goal of opening an anime and pop-culture themed tattoo studio in downtown Hammonton, New Jersey! It was not easy, in fact it was a lot of hard work and hours put in to make the space into the fun, welcoming, nerdy space you see today! I absolutely could not have done it without the help of my friends, my partner and my amazing clients who continue to come back to me and recommend me to anyone searching for that special tattoo!
My partner thankfully has a ton of experience managing finances and business due to his experience in United States Navy! (He does not currently serve/is a disabled veteran)
With his knowledge of managing the business end of the tattoo studio, and my knowledge of art and tattooing, we successfully opened our doors and did our first tattoo in the space on June 18th, 2024!
I coined the name Silver Wing Tattoo from one of my all-time favorite game remasters, Pokemon Soul Silver. In this game, to obtain the legendary Pokemon and gaurdian of the seas, Lugia, you must first obtain an item called a “silver wing”. I basically wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite games and anime series in the name, but not have it be so obviously dorky that it would turn away folks who aren’t seeking an anime tattoo specifically. Classy. You know?
I currently have 4 artists besides myself working under the Silver Wing Tattoo roof! We also have a spot available for guest artists who are interested in hanging out and tattooing with us temporarily! If you are a tattoo artist reading this and I sound like your vibe, inquire about a guest spot with us at SilverWingTattoo.com !
I’ll keep this somewhat short and sweet! I’m sure I’ll tell you plenty more about myself as we get to know one another during our appointment(s)! One of the reasons I love being a tattoo artist is that I get to meet folks who come from all walks of life! I love learning about my clients as I’m sure you are just as curious about me! I hope this gave you some insight and background on myself as an artist! I’m looking forward to getting to know one another better and making a great piece of art together!
Thank you for reading this my friend!

Education

• A.A. Degree in Studio Art (2019)

• A.A Degree in Behavioral Science (2019)

• Certified Grumbacher Art Instructor (2016, 2017, 2018)

• Williamstown High School (2014)

Professional Experience

• owner/Tattoo Artist - Silver wing tattoo - hammonton, NJ (2024-present)
  Tattoo Artist - Sinful Art Tattoo - Clayton, NJ (2020-2024)

• Freelance/Commissions Artist (CA, TX, NJ from 2017-2020)

• Gallery Attendant and Gallery Installation Attendant. Kruglak Gallery, Oceanside, CA (2017-2018)

• Certified Drawing and Painting Instructor for Grumbacher (2016-2018)

• 3 years experience in Adobe Photoshop (2015-Current)

• 2 years experience with Adobe InDesign, Lightroom, and Illustrator (2014-2016)

Publications

• Follow south Jersey.com (2022)

• World Wide Ink Magazine - Interview (2022)

• TidePools - A Journal of Ideas (2018 Edition)

• TidePools - A Journal of Ideas (2017 Edition)

Awards

• Certificate of Special Mention, "Chasing Visions", Kruglak Gallery (2018)

• Certificate of First Place (Oil Painting), "Revealed", Kruglak Gallery (2017)

• Certificate of Honorable Mention (Drawing), "Revealed", Kruglak Gallery (2017)

• Astro Sign Co. Scholarship Award (2014)

• Williamstown High School Art Club Award (2014)

Gallery Exhibitions

   Past:

• “Skin Deep” Selected Group Exhibition, Ross Beitzel Gallery (2022)

• "y/ourselves" Selected Group Exhibition, Kruglak Gallery (2018)

• "Chasing Visions" Juried Student Art Exhibition, Kruglak Gallery (2018)

• "Therapy" Solo Exhibition, Blue Gate Gallery (2018)

• "Duoble Take" Selected Group Exhibition, Kruglak Gallery (2017)

• "Revealed" Juried Student Art Exhibtion, Kruglak Gallery (2017)

• "Famous Faces" Solo Exhibition, Monroe Township Public Library (2014)

• "Student Awards Show" Juried Student Art Exhibition, Williamstown High School (2014)