We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maryssa Gray. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maryssa below.

Alright, Maryssa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear a story from back when you were an intern or apprentice. What’s a memorable story you can share with us?

In the tattoo industry apprenticeships and overall career growth can be extremely different experiences amongst artists, and I want to express where you came from doesn’t havre to determine where you are headed.

Something that will always stick in my brain is how hard I had to work to become a licensed artist two years of working full time overnight waitress positions and full time in a studio, I was exhausted, talked down to, and at times ready to quit, but Im stubborn and pushed through!

I believe that a lot of us artists who have been in the industry for years all have horror stories and I definitely have my fair share but I find it more Important to focus on all of the successes and positive experiences my career has given me. Tattooing and art education have led me around the world, and allowed me to work and grow in 39 countries so far. Ive made amazing friends and business relationships all from chasing a dream!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Maryssa Anne, a tattoo artist and fine artist with a lifelong passion for creating. Art has been part of my identity for as long as I can remember—I grew up drawing, painting, and experimenting with different mediums. From an early age, I dreamed of traveling the world and sharing my art with others, and I feel grateful every day that I now get to live that dream.

As a tattoo artist, I specialize in large-scale color and black-and-gray tattoos, with a particular emphasis on portraiture and realism. I love capturing fine details, emotion, and personality, then translating them into artwork my clients can carry with them forever. Portraits—whether of loved ones, animals, or symbolic figures—hold deep personal meaning, and it’s an honor to bring those stories to life on skin. My background in fine art, especially painting, has shaped my tattoo style and given me a strong foundation in depth, shading, and composition.

What sets me apart is not only my artistic technique but also the experience I create for my clients. Tattoos are more than just decoration; they’re lasting expressions of identity, memory, and confidence. My goal is to make every session collaborative and comfortable, ensuring my clients feel both heard and inspired as we bring their vision to life.

Alongside tattooing, I continue to produce fine art—primarily painting—which feeds into my tattooing and allows me to grow continually as an artist. I’m most proud of being able to merge these two worlds: the permanence and intimacy of tattooing with the broader creative exploration of fine art.

For anyone considering working with me or following my journey, I want them to know that I am fully dedicated to my craft, to the people who trust me, and to always evolving as an artist. Creating large, meaningful pieces that clients wear for a lifetime is both my passion and my privilege, and I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries, growing my artistry, and sharing my work with the world.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Funny enough I met my business partner/ husband at work! Our paths crossed while working in the same studio which eventually led to us traveling the world together and opening our studio Odyssey Art Collective on May 31, 2025 in downtown Cary, NC.

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

Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that over the last few years I built a travel YouTube and instagram and that’s where I really figured out social media. Everything I learned I transitioned into using for my studio and tattoo page and have had great success so far.

I would say that have high quality visuals, and being consistent with showing up and authentically showing who you are, are the keys for success with social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maryssaanne.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/maryssaannetattoo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdventuringArtists