LORE DROP
Hey, I’m Chris Murphy, tattoo artist, co-owner of Mystics Tattoo in Raleigh, and a lifelong art nerd with a +5 to creativity. I studied fine art at the University of Delaware, where I poured my energy into drawing, painting, and mastering the fundamentals while simultaneously grinding through fantasy games, obsessing over comic book anatomy, and sketching Pokémon in my notebooks during lectures.
That fusion of technical skill and full-blown geekery eventually led me to the tattoo machine. Something about turning skin into a living, breathing canvas just felt right. After years of navigating shops that didn’t match my creative vision and dealing with the gatekeeping that too often stifles real innovation. I decided to take a leap and build the studio I always wished existed.
That dream became Mystics Tattoo.
Mystics isn’t just a tattoo shop. It’s a high-level nerd lair where fine-line precision meets full-sleeve fantasy realism. I specialize in large-scale pieces, hyper-detailed black and grey, color realism, fine-line anime, surreal creatures, and tattoos that look like they were pulled straight from your favorite game or graphic novel. Whether it’s a photorealistic dragon, a tear-jerking anime tribute, or a pop culture sleeve that tells your entire origin story—I’m here for it.
And if that wasn’t enough, Mystics also doubles as a board game café, complete with video games, specialty coffee, and all the D20s your nerdy heart desires. We’ve got cozy couches, consoles, caffeine, and a lineup of events that range from Magic: The Gathering nights to themed flash tattoo days (yes, we have done Pokémon flash). It’s a place where you can get inked, roll for initiative, and maybe even slay a metaphorical dragon all in one visit.
Outside the shop, I’m a dad, a drummer, a former skate rat, and a full-time fantasy junkie. I grew up with ADD and an obsession with learning every creative skill I could get my hands on from music to comics to world-building and now I get to channel all of that into the tattoos I create every day.
If you're looking for a tattoo that tells your story, reflects your fandom, or just looks badass on your skin for the rest of time -come hang out. At Mystics Tattoo, we’re all about creating unforgettable art in an unforgettable space.
Let’s make something legendary.