A new point on the local tattoo culture map has appeared on Main Street in Greenfield. Kylee Mason and Kristyn O’Connor have opened Moth Hollow Tattoo Studio at 207 Main St., and from now on, city residents no longer need to travel to neighboring areas to get something personal and meaningful inked on their skin. The studio opened on August 28, and both founders call this step the realization of a long-held dream.
Two Artists, One Goal
Mason has been in the tattoo industry for about five years, entering the profession right after graduating from Franklin County Technical School. O’Connor recently completed a year of apprenticeship. The two met while working at another studio in the region and eventually realized they wanted to move forward together. “We approached each other and thought, if no one else supports us, we’ll support each other,” O’Connor recalls. For Mason, owning her own space was a childhood dream, and she doesn’t hide that she still feels euphoric that the dream has come true.
Why This Matters for Greenfield
It’s worth considering the context here. Until the end of 2024, there wasn’t a single operating tattoo studio in the city: Pygmalion’s Tattoo closed in December 2024, and Great Spirits Tattoo Co., also based in Greenfield, moved to Hadley. This was a significant blow to the local tattoo culture; small towns are particularly dependent on the presence of local spots because they are the ones that form communities and lower the barrier to entry for newcomers. The return of a studio to Main Street closes this gap and restores part of the city’s subcultural identity.
Custom Designs Instead of Internet Copies
Both artists emphasize that they work as custom designers and fundamentally do not use ready-made sketches from the internet. Each has a book of designs that clients can use as a reference, but personal ideas are also welcome – together with the artist, they create a unique drawing. Mason describes her style as “dark”; she is drawn to creepy and macabre imagery, works extensively with black and gray shading, and gradually adds color. Her portfolio includes monsters, lace with flowers, birds, cats, and even a shy cartoon ghost, with a tendency towards cyber-realism. O’Connor creates more delicate pieces: flowers growing from broken lamps, simple outlines of dragonflies and other insects.
A Name Inspired by Nature
Both are in love with nature and insects, and this is directly reflected in the name and interior. They spent a couple of days at O’Connor’s house in Shutesbury, going through options, and settled on Moth Hollow Tattoo Studio. In the single-room space, each artist occupies their half and decorated it in their own style: the walls feature thematic decor with moths, a frame with an Atlas moth, as well as ghost and pumpkin motifs. This approach to decoration is pleasing: the interior ceases to be a neutral background and becomes part of the studio’s artistic statement.
Conditions, Prices, and Atmosphere
The studio accepts both appointments and walk-ins. A consultation is not mandatory, but if you wish to discuss an idea in advance, you can write to mothhollowtattoo@gmail.com or contact them via Facebook. Operating hours are from noon to 7:00 PM, Friday through Monday. A deposit is required for booking: $50 for tattoos under 4 inches and $100 for larger ones. Mason frankly states that she strives for accessibility and doesn’t want tattoos to break the client’s budget. It’s also worth noting the emphasis on a friendly atmosphere: according to the founder, many studios intimidate with their “image,” while Moth Hollow aims to be an open place where you can just stop by to chat and learn about the process, even if you don’t end up getting a tattoo.
For tattoo culture as a whole, this case is telling: local studios with a human touch and fair prices often become the bridge that moves a person from spectator to participant. And the fact that this bridge has been rebuilt in Greenfield is a good sign for everyone who has long dreamed of their own work but put it off due to distance and fear of the “impenetrable” atmosphere of large salons.