Meet Union’s First Tattoo Shop, Chameleon!
Published February 2024
Did you know that tattooing in Massachusetts was illegal until 2000? Once the tattooing ban was declared unconstitutional, Chameleon Tattoo opened up shop inside the Garage in Harvard Square as the first licensed body arts studio in Cambridge.
We sat down with Rueben “Horikei” Kayden, owner of Chameleon who has been tattooing for over 23 years and specializes in large scale Asian designs and traditional Japanese tattooing. Rueben recently moved the shop to 33 Union Square, cementing Chameleon as Union’s first fully-licensed tattoo shop.
Tell us a little about Chameleon!
As a tattoo artist owned studio, Chameleon Tattoo offers a unique and personalized approach to creating the perfect tattoo for you. Our team is experienced and skilled in creating your next piece of art. It’s our mission to give you something more than just a tattoo, we want to leave you with an everlasting tattoo experience.
What inspired you to start a business? How did this feeling grow once you actually started your business?
I started the studio because I wanted to provide a place where people could come and share their stories with me and my team. Our inspiration comes from our clients and their unique background and experiences. The community has been overwhelmingly supportive already and the positive energy we are feeling is our daily fuel. Somerville has been absolutely amazing to us.
What aspect of your business makes you most proud to be a business leader in our community?
Being a business leader in our community is an honor that I do not take lightly. At Chameleon Tattoo, we are most proud of the relationships we have built with our clients and the impacts we have on their lives. We strive to create a safe space where people can come to express themselves through body art and we pride ourselves on the quality of our work. Our team of experienced artists is dedicated to creating unique and meaningful designs that our clients can be proud of.
Chameleon’s artists and their work. Click each photo in gallery to learn more about the artist!
How do you #LoveUnionSquare?
We love being a part of such an artistic driven community that makes us feel at home.
Is there anything else you think a Square customer would like to know?
If you’re interested in getting a tattoo please visit our website or call us at 617-876-0412 to set up some time to talk to an artist or just to see if we have availability—walk-ins are always welcome!
Chameleon Tattoo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12-7pm.
Head to their website to book an appointment and visit their Instagram page to see recent work.
