Dakota Weik – United by Ink

“My name is Dakota Weik. I travel, I study, and I document the world of tattooing.” That is how the intro goes to Dakota Weik’s documentary series “Life Beyond Ink,” where he takes his audience on a journey to learn more about the people behind tattooing. Most recognize Weik as the “Inked Abroad” host on social media, where he has taken the tattoo world by storm with his passionate, charming, and insightful reviews of tattoo artists that inspire him.

If you do not follow him already on social media, you may have stumbled on one of Weik’s many reviews, possibly one that includes one or more of your favorite tattoo artists. His flair and style are unmistakable as he sits at his desk, excitingly telling viewers, “You have got to check this out.”

Talking to him, it becomes clear quickly that his incredible fondness for tattooing is genuine. Weik puts considerable work into researching and locating tattoo artists he feels are doing something unique and creative with a skillset he wants to promote.

It is more than a mere reviewing — it has become a guide to incredible artists worldwide. His knowledge and keen eye have also been noticed and acknowledged by brands such as Sullen Art Collective, Co:Create, and Mad Rabbit Tattoo, all of which have worked closely with Weik.

Weik wants to spread positivity and help others through his social media presence and influence. “I always liked the positive approach,” he said. “I like spreading positivity… and art is subjective, so I am not going to go on and negatively bash someone that I don’t agree with. There is no need for negativity in that aspect, and I just want to promote people, whether it is helping artists get new clients or helping someone find their dream artist.”

Leaving No Stone Unturned

“I kind of stumbled into the tattoo industry as I came up with this idea to create documentaries,” Weik said. “I started building on social media [while] discovering the incredible artwork around the world. I just became so fascinated as I learned about the history, and how the artwork comes together, and the different cultures.”
Indeed, Weik came to the world of tattooing through his love of documentaries. From the outset, he wanted to document the tattoo world in as much detail as possible. One of the projects that flourished from this ambition is his documentary series “Life Beyond Ink,” with two episodes published so far at press time. The title resonates well with what Weik sets out to do in this documentary series.

Weik styles himself as a tattoo ethnographer, and watching the documentary, you see why. He truly takes you “beyond the ink,” guiding the viewer further into the incredible art of the artists and publishing details about their lives, friends, families, hobbies, and more. He takes a deep dive, offering viewers a deeper understanding of what inspires their artworks while showcasing a complete picture of their social and cultural context and identity.

Whether talking to their colleagues, families, and friends, joining Sergey Fedotov at a drag race, or visiting Maryland glitter realism tattoo artist Amanda Graves as she coaches cheerleading, sitting down with them for a meal later, it is all part of it, and Weik takes you on a journey of discovery to see why.
If Weik’s ever-growing inkwork and tattoo book collections are anything to go by — he has collected a lot of both on his travels to 48 different countries and counting — there are no signs of stopping the documentarian.

While his passion for documenting the tattoo world remains the primary objective, in the future, he wants to create the most comprehensive tattoo museum the world has ever seen, complete with all tattoo books — from academia to art guides — ancient tattoo artifacts and tools, shopfronts, and more. “That’s like a 20-year plan, but it’s a huge, huge project that encompasses a lot of different things from tattoo history and preservation,” he said.Weik’s keenness for body art is heading toward uncharted waters. A seemingly natural progression, this year, he is relocating to Germany to begin a tattoo artist apprenticeship. “I have tattooed two people before. Both were very ‘poop’ tattoos but it’s what you expect for the first couple,” he said, laughing. “But it was very scary because I used the coil machine on the first one and I just could not see the needle. So, I was just praying, I was like, ‘Just pull a straight line.’ So nerve-wracking.”

One of Weik’s latest endeavors is a massive backpiece inked by Germany-based neo-ornamental tattoo artist Isabella “Filou” Buhring. The artwork will pay homage to his love of traditional pinups but in her distinct style.

But before that, Weik will head to the East Coast to learn to build machines with the guidance of an experienced tattoo artist. “I want to learn how to do everything the old school way — solder needles and everything — and then do the coil machines and then go over and start my apprenticeship.”

The Pennsylvanian’s devotion to body art is palpable with his projects “Life Beyond Ink” and “Inked Abroad,” lessons in old-school tattooing tools and techniques, a move across the Atlantic Ocean, an apprenticeship, appearances at conventions, plans for upcoming projects, and more. “It’s a crazy balance,” he said, “but I have so many projects because I’m so passionate about everything I do. I love everything in tattoo history.”