Knowledge Tattoos
2706 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60624
773-384-8288

by Auriane de Rudde

 “Chicago has many different type of styles and that's what I love about this city. The diversity that it brings makes it so amazing to start a business, especially a tattoo one. Everyone comes in with their own flavor and style and when you put them together you can project amazing things.”  When Walter Fantauzzi opened Knowledge Tattoos in January of 2008, he had no way of predicting the financial difficulties our country--and nearly all small business owners--would have to face come the dawn of 2009. Still, Fantauzzi and Knowledge Tattoos’ resident artist Richard Dean have managed to stay afloat through a bum economy, enriching their northwest Chicago neighborhood with a healthy mix of new school tattoo art and old school street style.

            Located on the 2700 block of West Chicago Ave, Knowledge Tattoo sits on a quiet block of the notorious street, adding artist credibility to an already up-and-coming neighborhood. Although still populated by gang members and the sadly accompanying gun crime, the street credibility of a head-to-toe tattooed Walter Fantauzzi makes the shop not only appealing to new residents of the northwest hub seeking a walk on the wild side, but also a safe-haven for those who have lived in the hood for years. Simply put, all kinds of people want tattoos. Fantauzzi and Dean are willing to give the people what they want.

            At a February 2008 grand opening party, the store housed a motley crew of hipsters and bangers, yuppies and artists, children and adults. Tattoos ranged from girly flowers, to deadly skulls. Gang-marked knuckles fist pounded with manicured French tips. The refreshing and assuring common thread at the party, and in the store today, is the art, and not the art-enthusiast’s background. Lifestyle, education, ethnicity or neighborhood may pop up in discussion, but Fatauzzi assures that the common thread is a love for tattoos. “I thought that it would be great to come in the neighborhood with a different kind of creative business within the community. I really enjoy meeting the different artists that have come through the shop. It is a great pleasure to have such great talent be a part of something I am trying to build.”

            While his shop has garnered retail success on the Chicago scene, Fantauzzi has more to offer than just skin art. With ten years working independently in real estate, and only a high-school education, Fantauzzi comes off not only the down-to-earth business owner, but also a tough-talking street savvy professional most lawyers would envy. A kind of role-model to small business owners, starting from scratch and working his way up, Fantauzzi offers his advice to new entrepreneurs, “Make sure all of your financial situations are in place. We have faced every challenge you can think of. The economy has put a big break on things. A new business is hard no matter what, but the economy has made it a bit more challenging. Time and dedication is what it takes.” Fantauzzi also stresses picking a location you love for your endeavor as a small business owner, “Chicago is an amazing and diverse place. And there are no limits on what can be done here. You just have to set your mind to it and see all of the opportunities the city has.” Should you decide to open a tattoo shop, Fantauzzi adds, “make sure that you get the right artists in there!”

            Fantauzzi’s resident artist, Richard Dean, at only 23-years-old has a accomplished and quirky style all his own. Gritty, but clean, Dean’s work speaks to a younger generation of tattoo-seekers, and still envelops a retro style. With a portfolio scattered with Chicago gangland mockeries involving Abe Lincoln, creative Dia de los Muertos tributes, city-slum inspired rat portraits, and a small variety of beat-box throwbacks, Dean playfully mixes the old with the new to keep things interesting. Naval themes are a standard, and anchors are not an uncommon request and design. The often unwise but undeniably popular lover’s name pops up here and there, and Americana tattoos with cartoonish eagles leave patriotic wearers with a fresh version of a body art classic. The shop custom designs pieces for clientele, but whatever you do, don’t ask Dean for a text-book tattoo no-no. When asked what tattoos any artist dreads putting on skin, Fantauzzi agreed with us that tramp stamps and gang tattoos are the worst. No matter how talented the artist they may be, it’s impossible to make a tramp stamp look cool.
          

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