Over the past decade, tattooing has quietly moved away from high-volume walk-in culture toward studios built around custom work, artist specialization, and long-term creative development. As collectors increasingly seek out individual artists rather than storefronts, tattoo studios have evolved into more intentional working environments, where process matters as much as outcome. This shift has changed how artists build careers and how clients experience tattooing, placing greater value on time, trust, and technical depth.
Closed Casket Custom Tattoos sits comfortably within that evolution. Based in Ajax, Ontario, the established, artist-driven studio was founded by Travis Greenough with the intention of creating a space where tattoo artists could continue to grow, both technically and creatively. Instead of defining the shop by a single aesthetic or production model, Closed Casket was built to support progression across disciplines, allowing artists to take on work that develops over time rather than conforming to a fixed look or pace.
“Tattooing has changed a lot over the last ten years,” Greenough says. “Artists aren’t just trying to get through the day anymore. They want time to develop their work, push themselves, and build something sustainable. Closed Casket was created to support that kind of growth, both for the artists and for the clients who want something truly custom.”
That philosophy shapes how the studio operates day to day. Closed Casket functions as a working studio rather than a high-turnover walk-in shop, with a focus on custom projects that benefit from planning and collaboration. Tattooing here is approached as an evolving craft rather than a fixed formula, with multi-award winning artists and clients moving through ideas deliberately and treating each piece as a process rather than a transaction.
The studio’s lineup reflects that approach. Closed Casket is home to a diverse group of tattooers, including Travis Greenough, Derek Dereksan, James Bond, Amanda Paterson, Brandon Smith, Laura Phoenix, Emma Rose, Hannah Toth, Memi Giorgio, Mike Mullaney, Matt Gray, and Don Myburgh. Collectively, the team works across black and grey realism, American traditional, fine line, ornamental, Japanese-inspired work, and color realism. The emphasis is less on fitting ideas into a house style and more on matching projects to the artists best equipped to execute them.
For clients, that structure offers clarity. Prospective clients are encouraged to explore individual portfolios and engage in open conversations about their ideas before committing to a project. The result is a tattoo experience that feels considered and collaborative, with expectations set early and carried through the final piece.
Even the studio’s name reflects that balance. Greenough has described Closed Casket as dark without being grotesque, intended to feel memorable without relying on shock. It mirrors the studio’s broader approach, grounded, deliberate, and focused on the work itself.
As tattooing continues to evolve, studios like Closed Casket reflect a broader movement toward sustainability and depth. By centering artist development and respecting the process behind the work, the studio represents a model that aligns with where the industry is headed, even if it does so without spectacle.
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