Master Tattoo Artist | Ethnohistorian | Author | Philosopher | Cultural Steward

IMANI K. BROWN® (Osunyoyin)—Osun priestess, spiritual practitioner, and brand alchemist—is one of the most influential Black women in tattooing today. With 23+ years of serving Fineline for My Melanated Folk, she is recognized as the second most prominent Black female tattoo artist in the U.S. and the first most prominent Black artist tattooing in Japan.

A noted practioner-scholar of her field, she is the founder of Little INKPLAY Shop®, where Imani practices modern traditional tattoo with a lineage-centered approach—blending ritual, ancestry, scholarship, and Afro-Kawaii design. Apprenticed under Chris Mensah and traveling globally to study world art traditions, she now extends her research across Sub-Saharan Africa to reclaim lost tattoo practices.

Her illustrative tattoos are instantly recognizable—specializing in fineline Japanese, Kawaii/Anime, Ornamental, Floral, and vibrant color tattoos on dark skin. Known for her custom lettering handstyles, trauma-informed care, and spiritual tattoo experiences, Imani’s work attracts clients worldwide.

As a cultural steward and founder of Black Tattoo Anthology®, she documents, preserves, and reactivates diasporic tattoo traditions. Through her creative community, Y.U.M.E. Create Club®, she helps multi-passionate creatives transform ritual and story into visibility, sustainability, and wealth.

Author of Shoppe Gal®: The Memoir, Imani’s mission is simple: the magic, lineage, and creativity we’re taught to hide are the very technologies that protect, guide, and sustain us and our futures.