Kinship Collective Tattoo is a special place. Found downtown in quaint Northfield, Minnesota, the tattoo parlor is owned by Michael Hansen who leads a team of four additional tattoo artists. The space feels bright and energetic, with red and grey walls filled with framed paintings and oddities—many of which were gifts brought to Mike by friends and clients. The entryway features a large shelving unit made of reclaimed wood decorated with numerous plants of all types, including a handblown glass flower—all grown or made by a close friend of Mike’s. The shop’s sunny lobby and colorful, welcoming atmosphere doesn’t suggest the struggle and harrowing journey it took for Mike to find success as a business owner and tattoo artist.
Mike spent nearly seven years in prison for a crime he did not commit—the murder of his infant daughter, Avryonna (“Avry,” as Mike calls her). Although Avryonna’s death was the result of an accidental fall from a shopping cart a few days prior, testimony from medical examiner Dr. Michael McGee, that was later deemed not credible and inaccurate by both the courts and several other medical professionals, convinced jurors that Mike was to blame. After being freed with the help of the Great North Innocence Project, Mike returned home to reckon with the experience he had just endured and survived, and to consider what to do and who he was now.
“I was determined that the experience wouldn’t change who I was. But it was about two weeks after I got out that it really hit me that I didn’t really know who I was anymore…It didn’t feel like anyone else could understand me when I got out.”
He began a journey toward healing and self-discovery, attempting to adjust to life outside of prison walls. Although the journey would not be easy, nor a straight line, Mike turned toward his future and set his sights on accomplishing a long-held dream: becoming a tattoo artist.
“I decided that I’m here to experience this world of opportunity.”
Originally from Blaine, Minnesota, Mike has wanted to be a tattoo artist since he was nine years old. On his walk home from his karate class, he remembers passing a small tattoo shop and peering in through the glass door to watch the tattoo artist work.
“You’re not supposed to have minors in a tattoo studio. But I would always stop and watch what he [the tattoo artist] was doing. Eventually, I made my way into the shop and I loved looking at the tattoo portfolios.”
The youngest of three children, Mike was also influenced by his older siblings. He recalls hanging out with his older sister and her friends, all of whom had tattoos. When he was younger, he also was inspired by his older brother to try his hand at drawing.
“My brother is a great artist and I always really looked up to him. I remember watching him draw when I was four years old and trying to copy him.”
At 16, Mike started tattooing his friends. He created a homemade tattoo machine using odds and ends from around his home including a guitar string, a toothbrush, and the motor from a remote-control car. The very first tattoo he did was the image of the Joker from Batman on one of his friends.
After Mike was granted his rightful freedom in 2011, he turned to pursuing his passion of becoming a tattoo artist. During his incarceration, he sent out applications to become a tattoo apprentice without much luck. Eventually, he would land an apprenticeship after he was freed. Despite many challenges and moving away from Blaine, Mike would not only eventually earn his tattoo license, but also find solace and strength in his artistry.
"When you're locked up, you feel like you're nobody. But, tattooing has made me someone and helped build my resilience. It reminds me that I am somebody and that there is a soul there that is strong."
In 2015, Mike opened Kinship Collective Tattoo. He recounts the encouragement and investment he received from the Northfield community and how grateful he is for that push to open his own shop.
“One day, a friend came by and just handed me an envelope of money and said that it was for me to put towards starting my own shop. He really believed in me and in what I was doing…The community has been really good to us.”
Eventually, Mike purchased the larger space from where he now operates his studio. Over time, he has supervised the apprenticeships of four other tattoo artists, two of which still work at Kinship Collective Tattoo. In total, the shop features five tattoo artists, including Mike. The synergy and genuine care the team has for one another, and the admiration they have for Mike, is undeniable, evidence by the encouraging words and playful jokes echoing consistently around the shop.
About his team and his shop, Mike says, “It’s hard for me to take credit. It’s more important for me to see that these guys are coming up and able to do what they want to do and support themselves doing it. I just try to be grateful.”
Today, Mike is thriving in his professional life. He does very little advertising, with new customers finding him mainly through word-of-mouth and with many customers returning for new pieces. He sometimes will have customers request that he creates a memorial tattoo to commemorate someone they’ve lost after reading about his story. Mostly though, he focuses on large pieces and particularly enjoys working on tattoos that are free flowing, preferring to draw designs right on the body.
“We’re all shaped differently. We’re not bumpers you can just put a sticker on, so I like to use the shape of the body as part of the art.”
Looking ahead, Mike isn’t sure what’s next. He has thought about trying to open a second shop in another college town that mirrors the welcoming, collaborative environment that distinguishes Kinship Collective Tattoo. No matter what though, he will continue to lead with gratitude and a deep appreciation for his children, loved ones, and supporters.
While Mike has many tattoos himself, his favorite is the one that celebrates Avryonna on his back.