Remembering Buddy Mott: A Guardian of Tattoo History — The Man Behind the Museum

Introduction: The Keeper of Inked Stories

Every tattoo convention celebrates art in motion — but few honor the history behind the ink quite like The Flower City Tattoo Convention. Behind the bold lines, the roar of machines, and the buzzing crowds lies a story of preservation — a story carried on the shoulders of many: but one in particular stands out to us: Buddy Mott.

Born Carlton “Buddy” Mott in Newport, Rhode Island, Buddy spent nearly six decades tattooing and collecting the artifacts that tell the story of tattooing’s golden era. His legacy is more than a museum — it’s a lifeline that connects the earliest American tattooers to today’s generation of artists, historians, and collectors.

That legacy now lives on inside the halls of the Flower City Tattoo Convention, where the Buddy Mott Historical Tattoo Work Booth serves as a living time capsule — a chance to stand face-to-face with tattoo history curated by Daughter Marilyn Mott-Tolleson.

Early Days: A Craftsman with Purpose

Before Buddy Mott became a tattoo historian, he was an artist in every sense of the word. Engraving, sign painting, hand-lettering — these trades sharpened his eye and steady hand. In the early 1950s, he brought that skill into tattooing, opening his shop in Newport and maintaining it for nearly sixty years.

His attention to craft went beyond the tattoo itself. Buddy collected what others discarded — flash sheets, machines, pigment jars, and stories from the road. Over decades, he quietly built one of the most authentic personal archives of tattoo Americana ever assembled.

“Buddy did the lines, and daughter Marilyn did the shading and color — bold will hold.” 
— Traditional tattoo community reflection

That saying became symbolic of Buddy’s approach: keep the lines strong, the color solid, and the work timeless.

The Historical Work Booth: Preserving Tattoo Heritage

Buddy’s lifelong habit of collecting evolved naturally into a museum-grade archive. Every piece he saved told a story — not just about tattooing, but about the people behind it. Machines built from old doorbell parts. Flash drawn by sailors between deployments. Receipts handwritten in fountain ink. Each item reminded the world that tattooing wasn’t born in galleries — it was born on the docks, in barbershops, in the trenches of ordinary life.

Unlike a conventional museum, Buddy’s collection was alive. He didn’t keep the past sealed behind glass; he shared it with anyone who cared enough to ask. That spirit now defines the Buddy Mott Tattoo History Work Booth — a traveling exhibit and tribute featured at Flower City Tattoo Convention.

For collectors and artists alike, this booth is like reading a living history book — only instead of ink on paper, the story’s written on skin, steel, and flash paper.

The Flower City Connection

When the Flower City Tattoo Convention launched in Rochester, New York, it wasn’t just about gathering artists — it was about creating an experience that celebrated every layer of tattoo culture. That’s why the Buddy Mott booth was so important to have at the convention.

Here, history meets the hum of modern machines. Visitors are invited to meet Marilyn and Grandson Zack along with artist Mikey Fishhook, then sit in Buddy's chair, cut an actual acetate stencil. You can also view some of Buddy’s collection, see artifacts from tattoo legends, and then watch hundreds of artists continue that same tradition in real time. It’s an immersive bridge between past and present.

• Experience the legacy — Stand inches from flash drawn by mid-century tattoo pioneers.
• Connect generations — Witness old-school tools beside modern rotary machines.
• Feel the culture — Understand why history isn’t nostalgia — it’s identity.

This fusion of old and new defines Flower City’s reputation as one of the most culturally grounded conventions in the U.S. It’s not just a showcase of skill — it’s a reminder that tattooing has roots, and Remembering Buddy’s life work keeps those roots alive.

Legacy Beyond the Glass

Buddy Mott’s influence reaches far beyond the artifacts. His work reminds today’s artists — especially those carrying forward traditional and neo-traditional styles — that tattooing’s power comes from its lineage.

Respect the Line

The foundation of every strong tattoo is linework. Buddy embodied that philosophy, both in art and in life. His pieces were clean, bold, and deliberate — traits that define the very heart of American traditional tattooing today.

Collect the Stories

Machines and flash are relics; stories are living. Buddy preserved both. For every artist tattooing under bright LED lamps today, there’s an unbroken thread to the generation that tattooed by incandescent light — and he made sure we could trace it.

Bridge the Generations

At the Flower City Tattoo Convention, that bridge is physical. Artists who grew up idolizing mid-century legends now set up next to displays of those same artists’ flash sheets. Every visitor who steps into the Buddy Mott exhibit walks out a little more connected to the soul of tattooing.

Experience the Legacy at Flower City

Attending the convention? Don’t just stop by your favorite artist’s booth — take time to explore Buddy’s world. Sit in Buddy's chair, talk to the curators, and see where this art form was born. Then carry that inspiration back to your next piece of skin.

👉 Get tickets to the Flower City Tattoo Convention and experience the Buddy Mott Historical Tattoo work booth in person.

Continuing the Lineage

For the Ghost & Darkness community, Buddy Mott’s work is a compass. It guides how we create, teach, and share tattoo culture. Each flash sheet we design, each convention we host, each story we tell honors the past while evolving the craft.

Continue exploring tattoo history in our Sailor Jerry: The Blueprint of Rebellion and Ed Hardy: The Fine Art Pioneer features.

By Rob DPiazza — tracking the stories etched into life, culture, and skin.