Photo by Blake Gardner Photography
I was sitting in the lobby of The Warren Custom Tattoo Shop on Sunset Blvd when a man completely uninterested in tattoos walked in.
“This is a tattoo shop? This doesn’t look like any tattoo shop I’ve ever seen. You mind if I take some photos? Wow.”
His reaction wasn’t singular, and that’s kind of the point here. The Warren feels very much like its owner, Zoey Taylor: open, inviting, bright, meticulous, and decked out in vintage details. This isn’t the kind of shop with flash-plastered walls and signs reading, “Cash only,” or “No drunks,” (not that there’s anything wrong with that.) The vibe is just different here.
Interior of The Warren. Photo by Blake Gardner Photography
Cozy private rooms offer a more intimate and relaxed experience. Many of The Warren’s dedicated clients want larger pieces and book longer appointments—often day-long sessions—so the shop is set up with that kind of comfort in mind. Clients come to the shop’s versatile, resident artists, Zoey Taylor and Danny Dunbar, for a myriad of styles. Taylor is perhaps best known for her photorealism in both color and black and grey, as well as pieces rooted in graphic design. Dunbar specializes in both traditional Americana and Asian styles, as well as neo-traditional work.
Interior of one of the private rooms at The Warren. Photo by Blake Gardner Photography
How does a new shop have a dedicated clientele? The answer’s a little more involved than you might think. Owner and tattooer Zoey Taylor and tattooer Danny Dunbar have each been tattooing for more than fifteen years, so they each have their own following, but The Warren isn’t their first venture together.
Artists at The Warren: Danny Dunbar and Zoey Taylor. Photo by Blake Gardner Photography
The two tattooers first met in this space on Sunset about eight years ago when it was Prix Body Adornment. In 2013, Taylor branched out on her own to open a private, appointment-only studio in Lincoln Heights. In the beginning, the appointment-only studio was just Taylor and her ever-vigilant and hyper-efficient assistant, Nicole Crown. As demand grew, Taylor brought on like-minded artist and good friend, Danny Dunbar, to handle the influx. It wasn’t long before this skeleton crew outgrew their private studio, and the opportunity to take over their former home presented itself. It isn’t uncommon now for people who are unaware of the ownership change to walk into the space looking for Taylor or Dunbar.
Manager Christopher Swedo, Owner/Tattooer Zoey Taylor, Executive Assistant Nicole Crown, and Tattooer Danny Dunbar in front of The Warren Custom Tattoo Shop on Sunset Blvd. Photo by Blake Gardner Photography
The Warren is like family to the Clarkliving team, and these days Dunbar is the only person that Steve Clark gets tattooed by. Clients and colleagues often jokingly ask if you have to be tattooed to work for Clarkliving—well, you do, and we prefer you get your work done at The Warren.
By Zoey Taylor
By Danny Dunbar
Steve’s Tattoo by Danny Dunbar: A nod to the Shel Silverstein book Steve used to read his kids, Lulu and Silas.
The Warren Custom Tattoo Shop is located at 8776 W. Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. They’re open daily from 12-8pm; you can reach them by phone at (310) 659-3502 or via their website, www.thewarrentattoo.com. They take walk-ins when possible, but it’s always best to call ahead and check availability. You can keep up with The Warren on Instagram @thewarrentattoo and with artists @zoeytaylor and @dannydunbar. For appointment inquiries, please email Nicole Crown at .
