As a fifth grader in northern Virginia, Mike Salay watched in awe from his bus window as teenagers skated in a ditch beside the highway. Mesmerized by the tattoos decorating their skin, Salay was struck with a powerful desire.
“They were covered in tattoos, and I thought, ‘I want to be just like them,’” said Salay, now 49 and a renowned tattoo artist in Gainesville. “They were performing all these amazing tricks, and I figured that having tattoos was part of that world I wanted to join.”
Salay, who has been a full-time tattoo artist since 2000, works at Anthem Tattoo Parlor in Downtown Gainesville. He previously co-owned the studio with his wife for a decade. When he arrived in Gainesville, there were only three tattoo studios in town. Today, Anthem Tattoo continues to honor traditional tattooing while introducing new creative elements.
Located in a small blue house built in 1889, Anthem Tattoo retains its original floors and windows but now features framed tattoo designs and Salay’s skateboard collection on its walls.
Salay’s artistic journey began in Virginia, where he aspired to draw Garfield comics for creator Jim Davis and even wrote a letter to Davis expressing his desire. As a child, Salay would color in his uncle’s Marine Corps bulldog tattoo with markers and started creating tattoos on his friends with Sharpies, often causing concern among their parents.
“When Sunday came and my friends had to go to church, I’d get phone calls asking, ‘What did you do to my son?’” Salay recalled.
After years of drawing and art classes, Salay completed an apprenticeship in Virginia with tattoo artist Gary Clark at All In Tattoo in Fredericksburg. He learned to assemble a tattoo machine and started tattooing himself and friends. His first self-made tattoo was a small star on his calf, followed by two more in the days that followed.
When Salay moved to Gainesville nearly 20 years ago seeking a new experience, he found the local tattoo scene already saturated with artists. He initially worked out of his home and at Chaos and Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing before joining Anthem Tattoo. After ten years of co-owning the studio, he has since sold his share to Tim Strating.
Salay’s tattoos are known for their vibrant and dimensional quality, ranging from colorful pet portraits and sharks to mermaids and nurses. Customers can bring their own designs or reference images, which Salay can adapt to fit the skin.
Offering free consultations, Salay encourages clients to discuss their tattoo ideas, whether it’s an autograph, a custom drawing, or a specific design. The artists at Anthem Tattoo charge between $175 and $200 per hour for their work.
“I’m open to whatever you bring in,” Salay said. “We’ll discuss it and see if we can make it happen.”
During his two decades at Anthem Tattoo, Salay has encountered a diverse range of clients, from sports stars to college students. During the University of Florida’s national football championship victories from 2006 to 2008, late-night fan parades would bring intoxicated customers to the parlor.
“We’d say, ‘See you later, come back tomorrow,’” Salay recounted. “They would leave a deposit and return the next day asking, ‘Did I really leave a deposit for a tattoo?’”
To prevent tattooing intoxicated clients, Anthem Tattoo enforces a policy of not serving anyone under the influence. Salay advises clients but will delay tattooing if a customer is drunk.
Although he doesn’t particularly enjoy cover-ups, Salay performs them when needed. He explains that cover-ups often result in a darker, larger appearance and recommends that the new tattoo be at least two and a half times the size of the original to work effectively.
In addition to his tattoo work, Salay has been creating his own hand-made paintings since 2020, including pieces like “Grim Reefer” and tropical bird and flower images. Some of his paintings take up to 20 hours to complete, and he prefers to work on larger pieces in stages to allow for experimentation.
Avoiding artistic monotony, Salay rejects sticking to a single style. “Style is a trap, and technique is a prison,” he said. “I try to evolve constantly because sticking to one thing can become boring.”
Salay’s paintings were featured in his first solo art show on August 30 at THE AUK MARKET, as part of Artwalk Gainesville, a self-guided art tour highlighting local talent.
THE AUK MARKET, co-owned by Salay’s wife Samantha and Nikki Kragiel, showcases local creations and offers workshops on sustainable art and linocut techniques. Samantha Salay expressed enthusiasm for Gainesville’s vibrant art scene, saying, “It’s a huge cultural hub with a thriving art community. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”
Samantha and Mike Salay have collaborated on various projects over the years, including running Zorka Rose Vintage out of Anthem Tattoo. Although this is the first time Samantha is showcasing her husband’s artwork, they have long enjoyed working together.
Mike Salay cherishes their collaboration, calling his wife his “best friend” and expressing his love for spending time with her.
Reflecting on his journey, Salay appreciates seeing his childhood dream come true. A framed photo in his studio shows him as a child admiring a display of a 1930s tattoo parlor, a gift from his mother, who worked at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
“That’s me standing there,” Salay said, pointing to the photo. “My mom said I stood in front of that exhibit for hours.”
Salay advises those considering tattoos to follow their instincts. “Just do it,” he said. “Go with your first thought and location. If you want a tattoo, get one.”
Anthem Tattoo is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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