Lorain Tattoo Artist Raybeth Grasso Spending 2023 On A Tour

Local tattoo artist Rachel “RayBeth” Grasso learned her craft several years ago.

2018 was a busy year for Grasso, who opened INKspired Studios on 720 Broadway in downtown Lorain.

With over a decade of tattoo experience, she’s now ready to take her show on the road with Team Fliction, a competitive tattooing team.

Led by former “Ink Master” television competitor and longtime tattoo artist Al Fliction, Team Fliction is a competitive professional tattooing team.

Grasso will be part of the team that travels to more than 20 tattoo conferences in 2023, including the Cleveland Tattoo Arts Convention (March 3-5).

Grasso said she met Fliction at the 2022 Cleveland Tattoo Arts Convention, and he later remembered her as “the girl with the purple hair” after recruiting team member Glenn Wallace to a guest artist spot at INKspired in August.

“He saw the shop; he worked with us for a week, (and) really liked the atmosphere,” Grasso said. “It was about four or five days (later), they were in New Jersey and they called me, and they said ‘We need you for Dallas.’

“I immediately got put straight to work.”

Grasso began crisscrossing the country in August 2022. At Fliction’s request, he attended the Dallas Tattoo Arts Festival.

She was determined to do her best and work hard.

“At the end of the weekend, (Al) came up to me and told me that I was one of the highest-grossing artists,” Grasso said.

Grasso was promoted to a full-time role on the team after her performance in Dallas.

“To be a full-time team member, you have to commit to 80% of the shows,” she said. “I’m doing 93% of the shows.

“I only took three shows off my tour list, just for commitments at home with my kids.”

Despite the obligations to Team Fliction, Grasso still is available for bookings through inkspiredstudios.com.

She stated that customers who are looking for new ink sometimes book their time in the shop weeks or months ahead of them.

Many tattoo conventions offer awards that can help bring recognition and money to artists or shops.

Grasso said that she will compete in 2023, even though she hasn’t yet signed up for awards.

“My team has multiple award-winning artists.”

Grasso stated that she is likely to compete in the medium, small and large categories for female color tattoos.

She is known for creating tattoos and designs that stand out using vivid and bright colors.

Weekends spent on the road offered opportunities for Grasso’s work and to be seen around the world.

She stated that she enjoys the hustle and bustle of her new lifestyle, and is able to work under the pressure of touring.

“I have three all-day sessions scheduled from people that are traveling hours, that I’ve met at conventions,” Grasso said. “Those are thousand-dollar sessions.

“I love building the connections, and it also helps, because a lot about tattooing is confidence.”

Grasso will be tattooing in Amsterdam, in September in addition to his travels across the United States.

She indicated that the team is trying to book a Milan convention in December.

She said that Northeast Ohio was special to her and she wanted to be there with her shop.

She shared that she loves the fact that her tattoo shop is still in downtown Lorain.

“I’ve always felt nostalgic about Broadway, even when it looked not so pretty,” Grasso said. “When I was a kid, I lived on East Ninth Street.

“These were my stomping grounds.”

Team Fliction’s tour schedule can be found at villainarts.com.

Grasso is currently scheduled for all shows except Omaha, Nebraska, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City.

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