30 Jan The Secret Sanctum, Speakeasy Tattoo: Where Artists Hold Onto Tradition and Originality

By Joshua Anderson for the Peekskill Business Improvement District

At Speakeasy Tattoo, you are immediately greeted with the humming of tattoo machines and friendly faces. There’s a large waiting area with a wood floor, tin ceilings and a gallery of the artists’ pieces displayed throughout the shop. If you don’t walk into a busy shop of customers at 25 North Division Street in Downtown Peekskill, you’re likely to see the artists practicing their drawing and craft.

“We’re not just tattoo artists. We are artists that tattoo,” the owner of Speakeasy Tattoo, Patrick Conlon said. There is art everywhere in the building, from sculptures to paintings–the place hums with creativity.

The artists always aim to create the tattoo that the client envisions, using their experience and creative ability to guide the client along the way. They don’t offer cheap gimmicks or cookie cutter tattoos; they offer uniqueness, consistency and quality tattoos that will have people asking, “Where did you get that done?”

In an era where tattooing has become increasingly commercialized and industrialized, the only tattoo shop in Peekskill stands as a beacon of traditional craftsmanship and artistic integrity. They aren’t out for a cash grab. They’re lifelong artists who take pride in their long-lasting work.

Conlon has tattooed several celebrities, most notably Daniel Day-Lewis and Tim Roth, as well as fake movie tattoos for Richard Gere and Keanu Reeves. Conlon has even been tattooed by a celebrity, Rihanna to be exact. That’s a story for another time.

There are six artists currently working at Speakeasy Tattoo. They can all be found on Instagram: Patrick Conlon (@secretsanctumn), Stella Vlad (@stellamayvlad), Chris Mahoney (@chrismahoneytattoos), Raul Hurtado (@raul.hurtado.tattoo), Needles (@darthneedles), and Corey Kennedy (@lazerlipz).

Each artist brings their own distinct style and clientele. Their shared standards allow for smooth collaboration and better customer options. For instance, Conlon specializes in the illustrative style, emphasizing its storytelling power. Vlad is known for her more organic, free-form work, and she doesn’t limit herself to one genre.

Mahoney is a master of traditional tattooing with bold lines and colorful work. Hurtado is illustrative as well, but shines most with his bold, black-work focusing on contrast and graphic impact. Needles is well known, speaking to the hearts of Star Wars fans, as he has focused on hyper realistic tattoos of the genre for over two decades. Kennedy’s primary style is neo-traditional tattooing, blending contemporary with classic.

“You are what you eat, you are who you meet,” Conlon said as he discussed the benefits of working with so many talented artists. The artists are constantly working on their craft, trying to get better and never viewing their skill as perfect; there’s always room for improvement.

“We have an open shop, so everybody’s able to see what everybody’s working on. It’s a good competitive thing, not toxic competition,” Hurtado said, as he proudly explained their collaborative work environment.

It’s a diverse group of creative ‘starving artists’–starving because they get so wrapped up with their work that they sometimes forget to eat. The Speakeasy Tattoo artists share a common and strong passion to create consistent, lasting and unique tattoos that you want to show off.

“The pace is efficient. Relaxed confidence,” Conlon said.

Hurtado explained that he used to work at a tattoo shop in Mohegan Lake before coming to Peekskill. He chose Speakeasy Tattoo and has stayed here for more than eight years because, “We have one of the best reputations here in Hudson Valley Tattoo–with respect to everybody.”

The shop has a welcoming atmosphere, from the designs to the artists. And if you like animals, you may be lucky enough to meet Conlons’ sweet-hearted, three-legged, best-friend-of-a-dog, Lefty, named after a missing hind leg, which doesn’t stop Lefty from getting around the shop and downtown. Conlon can be seen walking Lefty all the time on the streets of Peekskill.

“We’re trying to build a community, you know, and we’re trying to teach people what real tattoos look like,” Hurtado said. He only planned to work here for two years or so, but the environment and the workspace make him want to stay because it feels right, it feels good.

“We want to give you something that is going to stick with you for a long time, instead of you coming every few years just to get a touch-up,” Hurtado said, speaking for the entire staff.

They want to avoid the trendy tattoos, like the hyper realistic flowers that are one inch in diameter. The artists here don’t want to give a tattoo that won’t last or work; they know the body, how it changes and how tattoos will look over time.

If they change the vision of your tattoo, it is not to tarnish your idea, but to enhance and adapt your vision to be properly inked into your skin. Collectively, they resist the growing automation of tattoos and explain why it is important to keep doing it their way.

“We’re not robots. We’re not copy machines… I don’t want an AI tattoo. I want a human touch,” Conlon said.

Hurtado encourages future clients and anyone interested: “Hey, just come through, we’ll help you out. We’ll guide you the best way that we can and we’ll give you a great tattoo.”

“You leave different, that’s for sure,” Conlon said.

Speakeasy Tattoo mainly does custom, appointment-driven work. The shop is open Wednesday – Sunday, 12PM – 6 PM; they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Walk-ins are welcomed based on artist availability, but you can also call to make an appointment or book online.

You can reach them at 914-252-6493. They can be found online, https://speakeasy.tattoostudio.site, on Facebook at Speakeasy Tattoo NY or on Instagram @nyspeakeasytattoo.

(C) 2026 Peekskill Business Improvement District. Photos by Joshua Anderson. Edited by Bill Powers.  If you are a downtown destination business, and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com.