The Women of Tattoo Series - Maud Wagner
In this series, I am highlighting some of the different women in tattoo history that I look up to personally and look to for inspiration professionally. Tattoo history is not something that gets a lot of press. In fact, prior to becoming a tattoo artist, I knew very little about the history of tattoos and the artists on whose shoulders I am standing. I am looking forward to highlighting some of the women who blazed the tattoo trail for me.
Maud Wagner circa 1907
Birth
Maud (Stevens) Wagner was born February 12, 1877, in Emporia, Kansas.
Life
Maud worked for various traveling circuses as an aerialist and contortionist. She met her husband (Gus) at the 1904 World’s Fair. Gus was a tattoo artist and Maud agreed to go on a date with him in exchange for a lesson in tattooing.
The tattoo machine was invented by the time she started her apprenticeship, but Maud was taught to tattoo using the traditional hand-poke method and preferred this method over the modern tattoo machine.
She eventually became a full-time tattoo artist and was known as America’s first female tattoo artist. She traveled the country with Gus, performing tattoos and working as “tattooed attractions”.
Tattoos
Unfortunately, there are not any surviving examples of Maud’s Tattoo Work.
Death
Maud Wagner passed away on January 30, 1961 after a battle with cancer. She is buried at the Homestead Cemetery in Kansas.
