An Ohio tattoo artist has been turning traumatic scars into works of art for a decade : NPR

Ari Shapiro, host:

Over the past decade, the tattoo artist Brian Finn has offered free or reduced tattoos to people who want to cover scars – scars of trauma, domestic violence, human trafficking, self -managing. I met Brian during another reporting trip to Ohio in 2015. A small article on his work in the Toledo City newspaper attracted my attention, so I stopped at his studio.

(Soundbit of archived NPR content)

Brian Finn: The cost of the equipment is not so much. It just takes my time. So, if I can improve someone’s day, better life, just covering a scar from bad experience, I sleep a little better.

(Soundbite of Tattoo Needle Buzzing)

Shapiro: Well, in the last decade, Finn has done thousands of free or reduced tattoos, so for our series “here to help” on volunteer in America, I wanted to come back with him. Brian Finn, welcome to everything considered.

Finn: Thank you. How are you doing?

Shapiro: I’m great. I can’t believe you are still there. When I spoke to you in 2015, have you ever imagined that you would do a decade later?

Finn: Oh, not really. I mean, I didn’t really intend to stop. But yes, it continues in a way.

Shapiro: Why did you decided to start doing this during your days off? What did the idea originally?

Finn: I just hit me one day that I had the tools to do something to help people. And everyone I was surrounded by said they thought it was a good idea, so I’m just rolling with it.

Shapiro: And was there immediately an increase in demand that is never released?

Finn: There was after our first interview, which really had me because I was assuming that most people knew you could cover a scar with a tattoo. And at this point, I think it has become aware that, you know, it is possible. And from that, you know, there were people who stretched out the world – different tattoo stores, different tattoo artists – saying, hey, I heard that on NPR. I am sort of the costume and I do the same thing. You know, it was Brazil, Ireland.

Shapiro: And so it is not only that customers have flocked to ask for your help to cover scars, but other tattoo artists have taken the idea and started to do it all over the world.

Finn: Oh, yeah, yeah. It was more a question of being aware. So it was the biggest resuming with that. So it was really nice. There are still people who have stood my hand every day, every two days – hey, I live here. And, you know, it may be thousands of kilometers, but they ask if I know someone or I could recommend someone or, you know, if the scar is healed enough to go. So give them as much information as possible.

Shapiro: During these 10 years, have you seen changes in the kind of people looking for you or the type of tattoos that people want?

Finn: Not necessarily – any change in tattoos. I think everyone chooses something different. I noticed that some people – you know, they want to cover a scar with a tattoo so as not to see it. But there are also a lot of people who came that they wanted to highlight it. And it’s – yes, everyone is different. And I think the two are big ideas and just a different approach, depending on what you want to do.

Shapiro: Did this experience change you?

Finn: I think it really changed me a little. I think it’s less overwhelming. I think it’s the greatest thing. I think that at the beginning, hearing the story of everyone at the same time was more than what I expected.

Shapiro: Yes.

Finn: So emotionally, it was – you know, it was a lot. Lots of pains to hear daily. But I think that now I just have a different perspective from it where it is pleasant to help people.

Shapiro: Do ​​you think you will continue to do so until your retirement?

Finn: I don’t see any reason to stop (laughs), you know?

Shapiro: Well, Brian Finn, it’s so good to tell you again a decade after our first meeting. Thank you so much.

Finn: Thank you very much.

Shapiro: He’s a tattoo artist in Toledo, Ohio.

And we want to hear from you. To tell us your own story about how a volunteer has shaped your life or to name someone, you think we have to take advantage of, go to npr.org and search “here to help”.

(Soundbite of Music)

Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit the pages of use of the conditions of use of our website on www.npr.org for more information.

The accuracy and availability of NPR transcriptions may vary. The transcription text can be revised to correct errors or match audio updates. Audio on npr.org can be published after its original broadcast or publication. The file authorizing the NPR programming is the audio recording.