Battle Born Artists
Archie Wood
Meet Archie, owner and artist of Battle Born Tattoo!
Archie is a versatile tattoo artist with 20 years of experience, excelling in every style from realism to Japanese, fine line to bold, color, and everything in between.
Originally from Pocatello, Idaho, Archie attended high school in Gabbs, Nevada. After moving to Reno, he opened Battle Born Tattoo in 2005.
Archie’s dedication to his shop means you’ll find him there most days, but when he’s not at the shop, Archie enjoys riding his motorcycle, spending time with friends and family, and keeping up with the latest movie releases!
Jordan “The Mule” Mueller
Meet “The Mule”!
Born in Santa Rosa, California, he moved to Reno with his family in 1990 at the age of five. Growing up in Northern Nevada, he draws inspiration from the neon lights of the city of Reno, as well as the surrounding desert and mountain landscapes.
As an experienced walk-in artist, Jordan is versatile in his craft, creating tattoos for everyone—whether it’s black and grey or color, fine line or bold, big or small.
Jordan has a deep appreciation for the history of tattooing. His station has an extensive library of reference books and flash from tattoo legends like Sailor Jerry, Bert Grimm, Pat Martinuik, and Tony Polito, as well as modern artists such as Paul Dobleman, Bert Krak, Tyler Harrington and Horitomo.
Keeping with tradition, Jordan offers a “Get What You Get” machine featuring Sailor Jerry flash!
Outside the shop, he loves spending time with his three daughters, Zoey, Penelope, and Elsie. He also enjoys attending live music events from all genres, from country to hip hop.
Alexx Mayes
Meet Alexx!
Born in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Alexx embraced Nevada as her artistic home and primary source of inspiration during her teenage and early adult years. Recently, she returned to Battle Born Tattoo after spending the summer in Brooklyn, New York, where she worked as a guest artist at various tattoo shops and private studios, which allowed her to work alongside world-renowned artists and expand her knowledge of the trade, honing new skills and gaining invaluable experience.
Alexx views tattooing as an interdependent art form, fostering collaboration between artist and client to create conceptual thought-provoking pieces. Her creative interests span historical art movements such as bauhaus, dadaism, and surrealism, along with her fascination for chrome-work, micro-portraits, typography, & Japanese traditional.
Beyond tattooing, Alexx earned her degree from UNR and is an accomplished fine art and commercial photographer. Her fashion photography has been featured in Vogue, WWD, and her scientific work has been shown via Space.com. Locally, her art has been exhibited at the Lilley Museum, Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and Sierra Arts Foundation.
Besides tattooing and photography, Alexx has an abundance of eclectic passions, such as playing guitar, working on cars, skateboarding, snowboarding, reading and tending to her plants!
Dillon Delano
Meet Dillon!
Born in Sonoma, California, Dillon’s travels took him through Texas, Washington, Delaware, and eventually Miami, Florida, where he lived for a decade. In Miami, he embraced his love for skating and surfing, working with a skate/surf company while nurturing his passion for drawing, which led to his own clothing line.
Growing up in a Catholic household where art was viewed as a hobby and tattooing as taboo, Dillon watched his friends, including a coworker named Nicky, pursue careers in tattooing. Eventually, his passion for the craft overcame familial apprehensions, leading him to follow Nicky into his first tattoo shop where he completed a two-year apprenticeship. He then spent another year tattooing in Miami before relocating to Reno, Nevada—the birthplace of the legendary tattoo artist, Norman Collins.
Dillon’s love for traditional tattooing is extremely prevalent in his work, drawing inspiration from American Traditional pioneers while striving to cultivate his own unique style. Outside the shop, Dillon enjoys being a plant-dad, exploring fantasy and sci-fi literature, Japanese manga, gaming, skating, riding his Harley, attending shows, and experiencing all that Reno’s vibrant nightlife has to offer.
Dillon accepts direct bookings and walk-ins daily!
James
Meet James, the newest addition to Battle Born Tattoo!
James brings 11 years of tattooing experience, mastering styles from folk ornamental to fine line traditional, black and grey, and Asian influence.
Originally from South San Francisco, he grew up in Hailey, Idaho, and San Juan Island, before moving to Europe at 22 to pursue his passion for tattooing. After apprenticing at L.T.W. in Barcelona, James embarked on a traveling tattoo career, gaining heaps of knowledge and inspiration from Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Now based in Reno since 2023, James loves meeting new people and using different techniques to create unique, fun, and visually stunning tattoo designs. Influenced by underground culture, Asian temples, and various music styles like punk, hip hop, metal, surf, and goth rock, James brings a vibrant energy to our shop. When he’s not tattooing, you’ll find him painting, playing guitar, cooking, gardening, and enjoying esoteric wizardry, skateboarding, and photography.
James is stoked to bring your tattoo ideas to life, whether it’s a custom piece or pre-drawn flash.
Jackie Verling
Meet Jackie!
A born and raised Reno native with a deep love for art and nature. Specializing in nature-inspired designs, Jackie loves drawing plants, flowers, animals, and even whimsical cartoons with a touch of glitter. Her love for colors—whether bright or muted—shines through in every piece she creates.
Jackie’s goal is to make every client feel comfortable and involved in the tattoo process. From the initial drawing stages to selecting the perfect colors, she encourages her clients to share their ideas and opinions, ensuring that each tattoo is a collaborative effort and a true reflection of their vision.
When she’s not at the shop, Jackie enjoys spending quality time with her son and exploring the great outdoors. She loves camping, discovering new spots to swim, and running in various scenic areas around town.