We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan & Matthew Murray . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan & Matthew below.

Ryan & Matthew , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Though we’ve had so many meaningful projects with so many incredible clients & friends that we love and have had the honor of working with, there have been a few life altering moments that we hold very dear to our hearts. We have had opportunities to help some clients and friends of ours with covering scars after medical procedures or accidents, which has helped them gain back self confidence through expressing art. Prior to tattooing, it’s something that we never would have dreamt or ever fathomed having the chance of contributing to. We get the chance to be a short chapter in someone’s story, whether it be a journey of self expression or a healing journey we get to be a part of that path and that’s something that we will always cherish.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are identical twins Ryan & Matthew Murray of the Black Veil in Salem Massachusetts. We are tattoo artists/ multi-media artists that have always found ourselves drawn to the darker aspects of both life, death and the macabre. For us there has always been elements of immense beauty to be found there, and it has always seemed to wrap us up and hold us close.
Our artwork draws very heavy influences from the death & mourning etiquette of New England’s Victorian past times as well as the energy and history of our home , Salem Massachusetts. Our illustrations manifest a deep fascination for capturing a glimpse through the keyhole of a veil between two worlds.

The black veil “shop of drear & wonder” is what we would consider our most cherished home. It is a metaphysical shop including fine art prints , custom apparel, candles & unique housewares. the Black Veil is also home to our private tattoo studio which is what we are primarily known and which has forged the black veil into what it has become today.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Ever since we were children we’ve always had a fascination and shared passion for drawing/painting and all other forms of art. Ryan began his tattooing career earlier on, meanwhile matthew attended classes as a film major at the Massachusetts college of art in Boston, but soon came into the industry while apprenticing with Ryan while still in school. Once matthew became a fully licensed artist The Black Veil opened its doors with works self-described as “black and grey for the grim hearted”.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

One of the most special and important aspects of the Black Veil is that it’s something we get to share together as brothers. We feel incredibly fortunate to share that bond and for the opportunity to create along side of one another daily. It’s something that we are truly grateful for each and every day. This also helps to continuously push one another and to further develop our skills both together and separately as artists. We are very passionate about creating a serene and safe space here in Salem, where all are welcome to visit, to feel inspired, and to know that they will be treated with the respect and care that everyone deserves.
We always look forward to working on our storefront & studio here in Salem, We regularly create new apparel , art prints, candles and other unusual creations. Within every season there’s new inspiration to be found and we love paying homage to each of them by celebrating through a variety of art forms and traditions, whether it’s foraging and decorating our space together, illustrating a new concept, or sculpting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blackveilstudio.com
• Instagram: @blackveiltattoo
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100044623590445
• Other: TikTok @blackveiktattoo

Image Credits
All images by Ryan and Matthew Murray Other than one image portrait of Ryan and Matthew sitting in chairs in front of mantle with books by Ryan and Genessa Olde @genessa.ryan