Julia Harley Tattoos

03/22/2026

One of the biggest parts of getting tattooed… is taking care of it after 🖤

Here’s our Whaling City Tattoo Company aftercare guide—simple steps that make a huge difference in keeping your tattoo looking crisp and vibrant.

Save this post so you always have it handy ⚓

01/02/2026

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🖤

I’m beyond proud to share that I am officially the new owner of Whaling City Tattoo Company.

2025 — a year we did a lot of growing.
Not metaphorically. I mean literally.
A baby, a business, our first home, and somehow 434 tattoos. 😅🖤

This year I packed up my life in Miami and moved back to my hometown of New Bedford — and you all showed up for me in ways I’ll never forget. You filled my books, trusted me with your skin, and welcomed me home like I never left.

In between diapers, stencil paper, and late nights, I:
• Tattooed 434 people (still processing that)
• Did more Portuguese-inspired tattoos than ever — azulejos, roosters, sardines & saudade 🇵🇹
• Became a mom and worked my way toward ownership
• Bought our first house (!!)
• Spent 2025 building, learning, and grinding for what was next

2026 — I’m stepping into ownership.
I’m officially the new owner of Whaling City Tattoo Company, and I don’t take that lightly. Hard work pays off.

Huge thank you to Heather and Tim for trusting me, supporting this transition, and helping make this next chapter possible. I’m beyond grateful and excited to carry this shop forward with so much respect for what you built.

Thank you for supporting a woman-owned, mama owned tattoo shop and letting me grow right alongside you.

The mothers that came through and supported my art as well- I see you 🖤

More color. More fineline realism. WAY more Portuguese tattoos.
More storytelling on skin. More community. More heart.

Obrigada sempre— Julia Harley 🖤
……..

01/01/2026

Thank you 2025 for an incredible year — I truly loved creating every single tattoo we did together.
From big pieces to tiny details, bold ideas to spontaneous walk-ins… being trusted to put art on your skin is something I’ll never take lightly.
I loved every moment — and I’m grateful for every one of you. 🖤 Big Announcement coming soon 2026

12/09/2025

Alan and Glep from Smiling Friends! Colorful cartoony tattoos are always a blast, and I’d definitely like to do more pieces in this style!

Bring me more colorful and cartoony!

Booking custom work for January + February — email [email protected] to reserve a spot.

12/01/2025

Another day at Whaling City Tattoo Co 🖤

Grateful for this community.

For inquiries or consultations:
[email protected]
Booking available through https://whaling-city-tattoo-company.square.site/

12/01/2025

11/20/2025

Nothing inspires me like Portuguese culture in New Bedford!

Booking Dec & Jan for custom tattoos.

📧 [email protected]
📍

11/20/2025

Some pieces stay with you long after the session ends — this one meant a lot to Jeremy.
We honored his dog Max with a portrait surrounded by a Celtic frame, and added the cancer ribbon for his wife, carrying their story with it. 💜

My favorite part is the word “Liverpool.” It started as a typo years ago, but it became their way of saying “I love you.” A small accident that turned into something deeply personal — and now it lives here forever.

Thank you, Jeremy, for trusting me with something so meaningful.

To book: Email [email protected]
Now booking December & January.

11/19/2025

Finished these matching ‘The Lovers’ pieces recently —Designing couples tattoos like this is such an honor.

Booking December & January for full-day sessions + custom work.

📧 [email protected]
📍

10/08/2025

Can you guess where this house is from? 🕯️🐈‍⬛
Hint: it’s from one of the most hauntingly beautiful stop-motion films ever made… comment your guess below! 👇✨

I’m currently booking for November & December at Whaling City Tattoo Company in New Bedford, MA.
📩 To book: email [email protected] with your tattoo reference, size, and placement.

Tagging the brilliant creators: 🎥✨

Tag them below so they can see the tattoo! 🐈‍⬛

10/06/2025

Such an incredible journey finishing Brian’s sleeve 🌲🐾 Every animal in this piece represents someone in his family—the bears symbolizing his father and their bond. Thank you, Brian, not only for trusting me with this meaningful project, but also for the thoughtful gift of your father’s Buddha statue 🙏🏼✨ We’ve named him Larry, and now Larry will be guarding the shop with us. This was such a pleasure to work on, and I’m so grateful for both the art and the amazing little gift.