Zeke Owen: Master Tattoo Artist - a film by Michael Houghton

Zeke Owen is a legend in Tattoo History. Along with Sailor Jerry Collins and Ed Hardy, he introduced the Japanese “big work“ style into Western Tattooing in the 1960s. “Tattoo Life“ wrote of Zeke, “His influence on the tattoo community is immeasurable. The stories about him are endless. Back in the day, he was what tattooing was all about: being a tough survivor in an outlaw business based on art.” Michael Houghton shot this extended portrait of Zeke on 16mm film between 1969 and 1973 in Seattle and Vancouver, but was unable to get funding to finish it at that time. This version, restored in 2019 from Michael’s edited work print, original camera footage, and period photos, brings this intimate picture of Zeke, his work, and his contemporaries to the public for the first time.