Artists
The hands behind the work.
Every artist at Aces brings their own hand, history, and way of seeing a piece. Start with the work, compare styles, and follow the portfolio that feels right.
Kevin Cox
Kevin grew up the youngest of three brothers in Washoe Valley/Reno before heading to art school in San Francisco from 1986–1989. Somewhere along the way, he learned to break the law properly—tagging and painting breakdance murals under the AEROS moniker—then lived in Santa Cruz before returning to Reno full time in 2000. Owner of Aces Tattoo, Kevin is an avid ex-skateboarder, GSXR fan, Harley chopper goon, graffiti vandal, Mad Dawg ink slinger, and collector of all kinds of crap: vintage BMX, skateboards, ’80s clothing, and hundreds of shoes. The guy’s a weirdo, but cool as hell—and he knows what’s up, foo!
RRIII
Rob is old school in the best way — a true artist with a distinct hand, deep roots, and a style that feels entirely his own. Known as a Reno icon, his work blends strong artistic instinct with years of experience, moving comfortably between bold custom pieces, detailed realism, and fine art imagery. His tattoos carry the confidence of someone who understands composition, contrast, and character, while his painting background brings another layer of depth to everything he makes. Rob’s work is a strong fit for clients looking for something timeless, original, and unmistakably crafted by an artist.
Jake Griffin
Jake focuses on clean black and gray work, lettering, and custom tattooing with careful placement and clear execution.
Jon McCann
Jonny McCann started tattooing in high school in 1995 and has been immersed in the industry ever since. After building and running shops in San Diego, Spain, and Reno, his work has earned international convention awards and appeared on magazine covers. Now based back in Reno, Jonny spends his days tattooing at Aces, painting murals, riding bikes to work, and enjoying life with the crew. Life is good, and if you’re looking for a new friend to hang out with and get artwork from, give him a text or email anytime: (415) 378-0042.
Sean Hansen
Sean Hansen graduated from UNR in 2009 with a degree in history and art and has been tattooing at Aces Tattoo since 2012. Available for a wide range of styles, his work often leans into bold traditional and neo-traditional imagery, black-and-grey shading, animals, florals, and custom illustrative designs. Outside of tattooing, Sean enjoys making art in watercolor, acrylic, and oil, spending time with his family, and exploring the outdoors as a native Nevadan.
Nikki Costalupes
Nikki Costalupes, a native Nevadan has been Tattooing since 2007. Established with Aces since 2017, She offers “Old Fashioned Electric Tattooing” still done with coil machines. An attention to detail and tradition are evident in her crispy line work and shading smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy. She’s a Motorcycle riding mama, knockout champion, & can perfectly fold a fitted sheet. Voted most likely to be struck by lightning, her tattoos are lightning fast and striking. 'Please get tattooed. I can’t afford to live on this planet anymore. ' -Nikki
Drake McElroy
Drake has been a patron of the shop since ’98 and occupationally involved since 2016. He can put on most hats and handle a bit of everything, from bold tattoo work to keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes. A goat in a man suit who has lived dog years, Drake is slightly world traveled, interested in sagebrush, critters, Earth Mother, bikes, art, and time travel por vida. He loves his three kiddos, believes in protecting PeeHee Mu’Huh, and stands firmly for clean water over lithium.
Amaro DaSilva
Amaro went to school for graphic design, and that trained eye shows in his approach to tattooing. Originally from Carson City and raised in Reno since 14, he enjoys working in all styles but has a special love for bold graphic pieces and strong color work. His tattoos are thoughtful, clean, and built with attention to balance, flow, and personality. Hardworking and easy to work with, Amaro takes the time to collaborate with his clients and refine each design until it feels right. He likes tattoos, rock and roll, and everything cool—definitely nothing lame.