Created by Inked Abroad
I'm Dakota Weik, the filmmaker and tattoo ethnographer behind Inked Abroad. I chase stories across continents, documenting the artists, cultures, and histories that shape the world of tattooing. Through immersive films and storytelling, I work to preserve these traditions and celebrate the incredible diversity of this art form.
Passport Pin-ups
Passport Pin Ups is my personal art series that I created as I begin my tattoo apprenticeship. I have a deep admiration for the Art Nouveau era, vintage travel posters, and the pin-up aesthetic of that time. In my free time, I study different cultures from around the world—their traditional clothing, jewelry, customs, and especially the influence of women within these cultures. I translate this knowledge into Art Nouveau-inspired pieces that celebrate and showcase the beauty and richness of diverse cultural traditions.
More of inked abroad
Dakota Weik, known as Inked Abroad, and Michael Corman travel the world to document the real lives of tattoo artists. Together they created Life Beyond Ink to film artists in the places where they truly live and work, from historic shops and remote forests to street markets and small towns. They focus on the human story behind every line, the philosophy and obsession that shape each artist, and they film each episode to preserve a culture that is fading as flash sheets are discarded, shops close, and stories disappear. This mission fuels The Halls of Ink, the museum and archive they are building to protect tattoo history and the artists who shaped it.
I’m a tattoo ethnographer and filmmaker documenting tattooing through culture, history, and real people. My work takes me across continents to understand how tattoos shape identity, preserve tradition, and reflect the lives of the people behind the needle.
Through Inked Abroad, Life Beyond Ink, and The Halls of Ink, I explore tattooing as both an ancient practice and a modern craft. I spend time inside studios, villages, and homes around the world, filming artists in their everyday environments and documenting the traditions they carry forward.
Everything I create is focused on the craft, the culture, and the people who live it.
The Halls of Ink is an anthropology museum and digital archive dedicated to preserving the rich history, culture, and evolution of tattooing. Through in-depth storytelling, rare archival footage, and interviews with legendary artists, it explores the roots of the craft and its global impact across generations. The Halls of Ink serves as both a tribute and a time capsule, honoring the legacy of tattooing and the artists who shaped its path.
