Asia Wierzbicki is an artist—and always has been, since her youngest days.
She’s also friendly and laid back. It’s important to her that anyone visiting her shop feels comfortable and safe to express their ideas. The tattoo artist has worked hard to ensure that her business, Tattoo Tearz, has a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Turning someone’s vision into reality is a responsibility she takes seriously—but that is where the seriousness ends. Her shop, at 514 Queen St. E, is right in the heart of downtown Sault Ste. Marie and she loves the central location. The venue she has created is not a quiet, boring room, but a tattoo shop with old school vibes where “the environment is always fun, music is always playing, and the mood is always chill.”
In addition, the business has recently gone mobile! “Check us out at a few events coming up this summer, as we will be attending and tattooing at the Go North Music Festival in Richards Landing, The Goulais River Community Days in Goulais River, and The Dragonfly Run for Arch held at Grand Gardens North,” she says.
Customers as well as local charities can now hire her to tattoo at their events and fundraisers. For fundraisers, she does not charge to be there; she donates a portion of the proceeds to the individual charity. She also does events, such as private parties, birthday parties, weddings, stag and doe, corporate events, etc.
The business is fully insured and approved by Algoma Public Health—both in her downtown shop and on the road for these events. You can often find her setting up and doing flash tattoos at the shop during many downtown events.
Asia’s story
As a young girl, Asia was utterly captivated by art. Nothing rivalled the act of creation. “As soon as I could hold a crayon, I fell in love with expressing my creative thoughts on paper,” she says.
That passion had her follow in her mother’s footsteps, with both of them winning the art award in school at the same age.
“Creativity runs in the family. My family, especially my papa, has greatly influenced and supported me. It all started with my great grandfather, Dan Murray, a well-known local painter, who had the privilege of painting with A.Y. Jackson from the Group of Seven. My papa, Ken Wierzbicki, is also a painter who now attends art shows and sells his paintings.”
He has been one of the most influential people in her journey. “He always reminded me that my art would take me places, providing everything I needed to paint, draw, or colour. He encouraged me to pursue my passion, recognizing my potential from the beginning,” she says.
He especially loves to tell the story of a horse head Asia drew to perfection at a very young age and in just 30 minutes. He often took her around town to various art shows to gather inspiration. “I never imagined that inspiration would take me to where I am today,” she says.
“It all started one Christmas when I asked my father for a tattoo machine. At that time, I only had 3 tattoos; that would soon change, ha-ha.”
Eager to start, she began practicing on herself the very next day. Next it was friends and family. Soon, friends of friends began requesting tattoos, which prompted Asia to fully commit.
“I went through all the steps to get approved by Algoma Public Health and opened my own little shop out of my home,” she says. The business took off immediately. “I grew a great clientele and made the move to open my own shop on Queen St. E. I believe I am where I am because of the continued support from my family, friends, and all of my amazing clients!”
How it works
Asia creates intricate freehand tattoos using fine line, black and white shading, full colour, and some realism.
“Customers sometimes ask if they can either bring in their own ideas or have us design a vision they have,” says Asia. “We welcome all of our clients’ tattoo ideas as we know how important a design can be.”
She has been asked about memorial tattoos—which include the family member’s ashes in the tattoo itself—and embraces the opportunity to do this kind of meaningful work.
Going mobile
The mobile part of Asia’s creative business is her latest adventure.
For years she attended charity events around town doing tattoos for local fundraisers. “I was able to use this business as a way of giving back to the community that has supported me, and I am humbled I am given the opportunity to do that,” she says.
After attending several, she and her mom came up with the idea of going mobile.
“We knew it would be a lot of work and that I was busy enough, so my mother took the reins and runs all of the background part of the mobile business for me. We jumped through all the hoops needed to run this portion of the business and we are fully insured and APH- approved for it.”
“Feedback from the city has been amazing. We would like to give a special thank you to the team at Winmar for being gracious enough to donate the sink and labour hours of building it for this new adventure.
She hopes to keep growing her business and to eventually acquire a larger space which would allow her to hire talented local artists to join the Tattoo Tearz team.
Says Asia, “I believe I am where I am today not only because of the amazing support from my family, friends, and clients, but from hard work, perseverance, and literally the blood, sweat and ‘tearz’ that I have put into my business.”
To book an appointment, go to the Tattoo Tearz Facebook or Instagram page @tattootearz and follow the Square appointment booking link. You will be provided a calendar, where you can choose your preferred date and time.
If you don’t have access to social media, you can also text Asia at 705-989-5545 for the booking link. If you’re unsure how much time to book, reach out anytime—all inquiries are welcome.
If you’re interested in booking Tattoo Tearz for a private or mobile event, send an email to tattoo.tearz@hotmail.com.
