Jon Poulson

Jon Poulson is an American tattoo artist based in Salt Lake City, Utah, founder of Aloha Tattoos and his private studio, Ancient Marks. With more than 20 years tattooing and over 30 years as a professional artist, Jon specializes in Nordic and Viking Age inspired tattooing, historical knotwork, Norse mythology and symbolism, Elder Futhark runes, custom BindRunes, sacred geometry and ornamental tribal Tattoos. He is especially known for large-scale tattoos designed to move naturally with the body.

Jon began tattooing in the early 2000s through a traditional apprenticeship with respected Samoan Tattoo Tofunga Michael Fatutoa. Since then, tattooing has taken him across the United States and to nearly a dozen countries, including time working for Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil at Vince Neil Ink / Center Strip in Las Vegas. Those years working around different artists, cultures and styles shaped the way he approaches tattooing today. Make something that belongs on the person, not just an image placed on their skin.

Today, much of Jon's time is spent studying historical Nordic artwork, Viking Age artifacts, carvings, runes and Ornamental designs, in order to find ways to bring those influences into modern tattooing without simply copying the past. Every project starts with the person wearing it. Some tattoos tell a deeply personal story, others are made simply because someone loves the artwork. Both are good reasons to get tattooed. Jon's Nordic work has been published in Northern Black's The Nordic Tattoo Vol. 3 and he is a featured artist with The Nordic Tattoo, alongside Nordic tattoo artists from around the world.

Whether it's a full Nordic sleeve, back piece, custom BindRune or a small piece of knotwork, Jon puts the same thought into making the tattoo fit the person who will carry it. Clients now travel to Utah from across the United States and internationally to work with him. After more than two decades, he still considers himself a student of tattooing. There is always another artifact to study, another carving to understand and another way to make the next tattoo better than the last.