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Apr 06, 2023

Snuffy, Tattoo Artist to Machine Gun Kelly, Opens a Brooklyn Studio

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By Ilana Kaplan

Name: Snuffy

Age: 30

Hometown: White Plains, N.Y.

Now Lives: In a tiny two-bedroom apartment in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Claim to Fame: Julius Margulies, better known as Snuffy, is a close friend of Pete Davidson and Colson Baker (a.k.a. Machine Gun Kelly) who drew attention as a tattoo artist after creating artwork for Mr. Baker's 2019 album, "Hotel Diablo," and for covering Mr. Davidson's body in tattoos. "Their friendship certainly added to my visibility, and I owe a lot to them for believing in me and including me in their lives," Mr. Margulies said. Other famous clients include Kaia Gerber, Swae Lee, Bad Boi and Tommy Dorfman.

Big Break: Before tattooing, he was a real estate agent. "I hated it and set a goal to become a landlord by 21," he said. By taking out several bank loans and borrowing money from friends, he bought a building in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn at 22, and teamed up with his brother to acquire other properties.

He used a vacant space in Williamsburg to practice his body art, and grew his side hustle through word of mouth. He met Mr. Baker in 2019 through friends in Los Angeles, and the two hit it off. As with all his tattoo clients, he had Mr. Baker send him personal stories before he created any art. "The trust was there from the get-go," Mr. Margulies said.

Latest Project: Last November, he opened his first tattoo shop, Morwin's Office, near the Williamsburg waterfront, which he described as a "treehouse oasis" in an otherwise bustling city. The second-story shop has no signs or doorbell, and features a cozy lounge and sunny patio. "Tattoos are therapy, and this space allows for just that," he said.

Next Thing: In addition to tattooing, he has branched out into fine arts and hopes to exhibit his abstract glass-and-steel sculptures at an art gallery. "Similar to my tattoos, I’m not much for explaining art," he said. "My job is to make you feel something when you see what I’ve made."

Triple Threat?: Snuffy also has dreams of being a musician. For more than a decade, he has been producing electronica tracks that he describes as "atmospheric" and "futuristic." In 2018, he released an album, "Snuffy. NYC," through an underground label in Berlin. "My music career is in the shadows," he said. "I have thousands of songs, just waiting for the right time."

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