Professional, friendly staff, very clean. Incredible artists. Would recommend 100 times over.

Nathan and Brian did amazing on our tattoos today!! Nathan did the handwriting on my arm and Brian did the piece on my hubbys arm. Theyre both incredibly well rounded artists, made us feel comfortable and welcomed. Brian worked around our schedule change and Nathan was able to squeeze me in too. Definitely the only place/people well ever go to again.

Great experience here. Everyone was awesome and professional. Dwayne Nemo did a great wrap-around forearm tattoo for me. Efficient and clean! Highly recommend

I’ve been getting my artwork done by Matt Christensen for 5 years, through 4 different locations. He is a gifted artist who truly cares about what he is creating and about his clients. He and Sarah feel like extended family to me and I would never go anywhere else! I recommend him to everyone and can’t go sleeveless or strapless without being sure to have his business cards on me! Full sleeve, 1/2 back, a couple of memorial tattoos and an almost finished second sleeve- almost out of room! Thank you Matt!Oh! And be sure to check out Sarah’s jewelry line!! Beautiful pieces of art too!

Matt Christensen is a phenomenally talented artist and his professional approach to his business and work is commendable. His studio is very clean, welcoming, and has been furnished with quality equipment. I enjoyed collaborating with him on my piece. It was nothing like I originally envisioned but that was actually a good thing! I absolutely loved his interpretation and unique twist on my ideas and ended up feeling so much happier with his creation than my own idea. Matt holds himself to a high standard, takes his work seriously, and clearly loves what he does. He is fantastically creative and skilled. You will be in excellent hands if you choose to work with him and I can’t recommend his studio enough!

Nate does amazing work! I’ve been a client with him for a few years since he worked out in Rome and never have been disappointed. He puts his all into his work to make sure it comes out amazing. He is great at what he does and makes you feel comfortable while being tattooed. I highly recommend him!

I came here because of all the great reviews and I have to say I wasnt disappointed at all. Nathan was very patient working with me deciding on the final look of my tattoo. He took his time with the placement so it would be just right. The tattoo itself seemed to go really quick and the whole experience was a great one. I would absolutely go back, and ask for Nathan!! Thank you! I LOVE my tattoo.

Not only is their ink AMAZING, they have an amazing clothing line! They make you as comfortable as can be. They work fast but its years of working and beautiful ink is still created. 5STARS!

Nate has been tattooing me for years and his work is absolutely amazing. Never disappoints and he always makes sure youre comfortable. Super great environment I will never get tattooed anywhere else! Amazing all around!

Got tattooed by Nathan and I couldn’t be more pleased. He did an amazing job with colors, lines and shadows! He was very easy to talk to as well and I am very happy with both the tattoo and the experience itself. Would go here again without hesitation!!

Awesome service, had an awesome piece added and some work touched up. Nathan strange did Fantastic line and shading work. Will definitely be back for more.

Nate is my personal favorite. Hes very personable but not afraid to tell you if he thinks something isnt going to look right. If not, he always tries his best to find a way to make it usually by incorporating some of his ideas with yours. If youre not satisfied with what he comes up with, he has no problem starting from scratch and creating something new. The shop is always very clean and decently quiet.

Excellent service and tattoos by both Matt and Sara. Will be returning for more

I would definitely recommend Oculus to tattoo-seekers of all types. I have worked with many different artists in Upstate NY from Buffalo to Albany and everywhere in between and working with Matt (and Sara!) has been the most pleasant experience by far. They took the time to ask questions and were flexible in working with what I was looking for. Matt was thorough and patient in his work and frequently took the time throughout my session to request my feedback - which I appreciated. They were more than fair with what they charged me and I will be recommending Oculus to anyone looking for a great artist in the Syracuse area.

Matt is really good and has a really light hand

Nate is amazing, Great artist and put his everything into his work.... Nate makes you feel comfortable at all times I highly recommend him 100 percent I will not ever go to anyone else

Wow! Oculus is the definition of a clean and professional shop. Matts work is simply amazing. Detail where I didnt even think of in his design of my tattoo. Beautiful art. Fantastic shading and brilliant colors. Not only did I love his work, but he was great to chat with while getting it done. Great artist and person. I may never go anywhere else again. They also have a retail section of his work on clothing and jewelry in the shop.

Came to Nate Strange as a referral from a friend he took my tat from 14 years ago and brought it back to life. I will be back for another. If your looking for something new or to revamp something from the past go to Nate. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks man!

This is the place to go for a great experience for tattoos. Matt is an excellent artist. You get what you pay for. He does excellent with doing cover ups. You do get a discount if youre in the military.

Nate is a great artist and piercer. I have been going to him for 3 years now. He has never made a mistake or never disappointed me.

Matt is great! I went in looking to add on to my arm and he showed me this mermaid he had drawn up. It quickly became my favorite piece so far. Hes very professional and keeps a clean shop. His place is beautiful and not like any of the other Tattoo shops Ive seen. He is definitely worth checking out!

Best experience getting a tattoo yet. The entire shop is professional and you can tell they have a passion for what they do! Matt the artist that did my tattoo was not only helpful during the tattoo but also during aftercare !!! By far best tattoo shop!!!

Matt is an outstanding artist both on paper and skin. I love the collaboration between himself and the customer. Ive only had 2 pieces done so far, getting my 3rd custom piece of Matt design choice done soon. Super excited. His shop is CLEAN, laid back, and just a great place to go for FABULOUS work. Pure perfection.

Eric is amazing! He did a fantastic job on my tattoo and wonderful detailing for the price quoted. Highly recommend this place! Extremely hygienic and artists are very friendly and helpful. Will definitely go back again!

My mother in law suggested I go to MattFor an Original design. I had the most amazing experience working with him. I told himI wanted to do a tattoo in honor of my Grandma and her two favorite things wereOf course the most generic tattoos ever, butterflies and red roses. I told him I didnt want it to look like every other tattoo. He exceeded my expectations. I am so in love with not only my tattoo but my experience as well. He is such a down to earth guy, actually makesConversation when tattooing and makesYou laugh through a somewhat painfulProcess. He is an amazing artist and his ideas are so original. His girlfriend who works there is so helpful and very friendly. The shop is clean and comfortable. I couldHonestly go on for days but I wont sit here and bore you. Just stop looking around for a tattoo shop and go see Matt!!!!

I brought a good tattoo idea to the table and Matt added good ideas of his own. The result was a collaborative design that led to incredible tattoo work. I get regular compliments on the bright colors, intricate details, and overall style. And it’s not even done yet! I’m eager to get more work done by Matt and am excited to check out his new shop. A smart canvas goes where the artist goes, and I’m going over to Create as soon as I can.

I got a birthday Birdy here on my ankle. Great price, adorable bird !!!

Quin Hicks is fire he has been the only person to do my tattoos I get compliments on them at work or when I’m just shopping or walking every one wants to know who did my tattoos, hit him up, I highly recommend him, he is very professional and doesn’t kid around when it comes to his work and he’s easy to talk to

Matt is absolutely the best artist Ive seen in the area! He kills every piece he puts his mind and hands too.. I recommend anyone to go check him out! Awesome personality and he gets it done the right way!

Artists are excellent and work with you to get the piece you want. Environment is clean and inviting. Awesome experience overall.

Create is a beautiful and very clean, Modern tattoo shop! Really one of the best Ive EVER been to. Organized, calm, comfortable. Erik Clark did my first character tattoo and Im happy as hell with the amount of detail and accuracy! So stoked!! You NEED to get in here! Coming back for more.

Matt is an absolutely amazing tattoo artist. He has been doing my tattoos since my first one. His shop is super clean and a great atmosphere. You will fall in love with every tattoo that comes from his shop. Just throw him an idea and he will turn it into something amazing! His shop is the only place I will trust!

Great shop! Very creative, professional, and kind. Custom artists that can help put your vision on your body. Sara is also an amazing jewlery designer! Would highly recommend this shop to anyone I know.

AMAZING SHOP! Matt has been doing my tattoo work for a few years now since I relocated to upstate NY. Everywhere I go, I get compliments on how bright and vibrant the colors are and how beautifully detailed the work is. Not only that, but the Oculus clothing line is awesome. Ive gotten hats, shirts, leggings..love it all! Just ordered a hoodie too! If you are looking for a professional artist, this is definitely the place to go.Another huge plus - you can grab some cool jewelry while youre there from Fox Den Jewelry. Very unique hand-crafted stuff!

Amazing, made us feel very comfortable and very friendly and very nice clean establishment

Matt was great to work with, I will definitely be back and recommend him to everyone! He was professional, patient, (because to be honest, I was a sissy after the 2nd hour), and did a great job! My tattoo was a pretty sizable cover up and it healed very fast. The atmosphere is comfortable, and the shop is very bright, and clean. Matt was also spot on with the predicted price quote and length of the session.

If your looking for any old tattoo you may want to keep looking, on the other hand if your looking for a unique piece of art then look no further. The cleanliness, professionalism, and artistic ability of Matt and his team are second to none. Matt has never failed to bring the vision I present to life.

Highly recommend matt and his shop. I am very happy with a cover up he did for me recently. He is an awesome artist, tattooer and all around cool guy. If youre looking for high quality work done go here. The shop is super clean and inviting. Will definitely be getting more work done in the future and have and will recommended to others.

I have been getting my work done from Nathan for 3 years now. He has always been able to take my idea add his twist around it and make me love it even more.

So pleased with the professionalism Matt had while I was at his shop. He is very talented and knowledgeable..this guy knows what he is doing for sure and it shows by his continuous forward strides and accomplishments with his business. He does beautiful artwork and has many opportunities at success with the new roads he is taking with the shop including the selling of supplies needed by a professional tattoo artist. Also you will find some beautiful jewelry pieces made by Sarah and some of Matts own artwork to purchase...The atmosphere at Create Tattoo & Art Studio is very clean, modern and comfortable with a lot to look at as soon as you walk in....including the many awards Matt has received for his incredibly artistic pieces ..I am very impressed and pleased with my tattoo and cant wait to get more done and to purchase some jewelry next time I visit!!!! Great work Matt!!! Finally a true professional!!!!!

Very clean facility, very personable artist, i went to Nathan strange for my whole sleeve, and it was phenomenal the whole time, very light handed and his work speaks for itself i recommend Nathan to any one in the market for a tattoo of ANY kind . great job nate keep up the good word

Matt and Sara are both excellent with their customer service and my husband and I always have a great experience when weve come into the shop. I started going to Matt a few years ago to help finish up some sizable leg pieces I had, and I loved his work so much that I recommended him to my husband when he was searching for someone to finish the top half of his sleeve. He ended up getting two more custom tattoos from Matt, one of which Matt and Sara both worked with me to help design for him. This is a shop with hard working people that really deliver that personal touch with whatever artwork youre interested in.

Matt is a true artist! He took my vision and was able to cover up a tribal piece on my shoulder with an amazing ‘trash polka” knight’s helm. He is a craftsman in his field and takes the time to make sure the final results are perfect. This includes follow up sessions and touch up. He takes pride in each piece he works on and wants to ensure that his clients are fully satisfied. Already working on my second piece with him. Stop in for a consul you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you for the start of a great new piece of art! New location is easy to get to and more parking.

Ive know Matt professionally for roughly 5 years now. His work is spot on technically and his wacky ideas translate to paper and skin flawlessly. His compositions leap off what ever material they are on, be it for the graphic arts world or your very own body.While he definitely has a flare for nu skool color work, with well thought out compositions drawing your eye from detail to detail, his portrait work and realism are superb! Check him out in his new shop, Create Tattoo & Art studio, I know I plan to visit soon!

I got my first sleeve from Matt back in 2010. Five years later and I still get compliments on how amazing and bright it looks. Im always impressed by his other works. Hes friendly, professional, and most importantly, clean (Ive lost count the number of times hes changed his gloves in a session). Go to Create; youll be glad you did.

I have been getting work done by Matt for years. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and clean. He is always reinvesting and building his brand and trade. Today is my first time at the new Oculus shop and it is in great location with an awesome vibe!

Matt is wonderful! His colors are vibrant even after healing. Super professional and an amazing artist I love my tattoo and definitely will be going back to Matt to get the rest of them!

Matt C. Has artistry beyond the use of the tools. He researches, designs and executes with impeccable skill. He created two incredible pieces of art, in the form of full sleeves, on both my sister and myself. You wil not find an artist around here with more integrity.

If you are looking around I definitely recommend getting your tattoo here. Everyone that works here is super personable and the artwork they do is amazing. My husband and I have been getting our tattoos done by Matt, and you can tell how much passion, care, and hard work he puts into tattooing and Oculus itself.

Matt is beyond talented! His work is truly amazing! I highly recommend you check his work out!! You will not be disappointed! You will not just get a tattoo, you will get a piece of art to love for a lifetime

I was very pleased with my second time at this shop! Professional staff and clean work environment the owner Matt and his fiancé Sara are very nice to work with and Matt knocked out an awesome owl piece on my forearm in a timely and professional matter I will be returning in the future

Ive been a client of Nathans for a few years now. I was a client of his when he was working in Rome and have continued to go to him since he moved out to Syracuse. His work is amazing. His use of bright colors and clean line work make his peices come to life on the skin! I absolutely love his neo -trad style. Ive had him custom design a few pieces for me and I love collaborating with him when designing a new tattoo. He is full of ideas and always open to my ideas and suggestions on how to make the piece really fit me and my style. And hes really down to earth and funny. I always have a great time when he works on me because he makes me makes feel comfortable and welcome Everytime I see him. I always get complimented on the peices hes done for me. The bright bold colors just pop on the skin and people always want to know who does my work and I cant wait to brag about Nate and recommend him to everyone! And I can honestly say that since hes moved locations out to Syracuse his work has continued to improve greatly now that hes working with matt. I cant recommend this man enough.

Matt is super reliable and always delivers amazing work! Very easy to talk to and always open to ideas. He has some of the best illustrations and tattoo ideas I have seen. He really takes pride in what he does! A++

Amazing work, very professional and great atmosphere. 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this shop to any one in syracuse looking for a great tattoo.

Matt is super talented. The 100+ awards do him no justice. He takes time to make sure every piece of art work that leaves his shop is executed perfectly and will hold up over time.I personaly wont go anywhere else. Thank you Matt your so cool .

This was my first tattoo and I was sure I would only ever want one. But I would definitely go here for several more! Thanks Matt for the excellent work while making it a fun time!

Been going to Matt for almost 10 years now, wouldnt want to go to anyone else. Incredible artist both with ink and tattoo machine. His work with colors are 2nd to none. If you havent checked him out yet, do so! Its no mistake that hes won as many awards at expos as he has.

Pierced my 10 year olds ears after a booth in the mall butchered her. They were professional and did an amazing job. Will def go back!

Mattie is by far the best tattoo artist in Central NY! I did my research and watched a lot of online portfolios of local artists before I selected him and he definitely did not disappoint. Hes completed a huge cover-up on my back and a half sleeve of photo-realism portraits for me. Ive never received so many compliments before in my life! People who you would never suspect will stop me dead in my tracks to talk to me about his work! It happens so often I had to carry around a stack of his business cards to hand out to people so I didnt have to keep writing his information down for everyone! He has the craziest ability to pack in color and his artwork are some of the most creative and beautiful Ive ever seen! I will always recommend him 100xs over!

Great place, consistently great work!

Matt is a phenomenal artist as well as an awesome guy. He and Sara turn everything they touch to gold! THE tattoo shop to hit in Syracuse!

Top notch work, no question about it! Matt is an extremely creative professional, who takes all of his work very seriously, and always puts the customer first. His creativity lends to awe-inspiring work, in the form of custom and unique prints, as well as getting ink. He makes you feel very comfortable, frequently updates you on the work being done and values your input. Even better: He does the work that a customer requests, and usually far better than what they could have hoped for.... and is not particularly picky about source material, or the customers ideas. Add to that the fact that he can put a nu skool or modern twist on what might otherwise be something more traditional, and its bar none one of the best ink shops in the local area. I really cant say enough for this place!Update 8/14/2020:The fact that a business that already operates top tier AND follows all the new public health guidelines and regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic (in addition to the already superior hygienic service) without making it awkward, restrictive or burdensome is just another great reason I have continued my business with Matt for going on 8 years now.All I can (continue to) say is: best decision Ive made with regards to local business support.

If you want a tattoo in CNY call Oculus. You wont regret it.

Matt is an amazing tattoo artist, I looked through portfolios for over a year and a half before I found his work and signed up to be tattooed by him. He did an outstanding job, so happy with his work!

Everything about Create Tattoo & Art Studio is a phenomenal experience. Matt is not only the best at what he does, but its obvious how much thought and caring goes into every work of art he creates. I highly recommend in every way I can for the aforementioned reasons and cant wait to get back in the chair.

GREAT studio, wonderful people an AMAZING work! Clean/Sterile with great quality!

Ive gotten numerous pieces from Mattie over the years, all of which I get complimented on almost daily. Ive truly lost count of how many times Ive been stopped while Im out to ask where Id gotten my artwork. Ive never been more proud to wear someones art. Matts shop is the only one that I will go to for custom work. His level of professionalism cannot be matched, and his abilities surpass any other artist Ive come across in the six years Ive been getting tattooed. If you want something original, and one of a kind, that youll be proud to show off.. Go to Create.

Ray Vazquez is fantastic. Great personality. Very qualified. Find Ray on instagram @steakandchicks

No one is more knowledgeable when it comes to tattooing then Matt, no one works harder to make sure the artwork on your body is nothing less then truly spectacular. 5-STAR. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I just got a portrait of my Boston terrier on my hand and its amazing Matt is a master artist.his shop is very clean and professional I would highly recommend coming here to anyone if ur looking for a great tat come here talk to Matt u wont regret it.

Great service by Brian. Super professional great pricing great atmosphere

I highly recommend this place and Nate!

I have seen wonderful things done to close friends of mine and I am hoping to also get a tattoo fairly soon.

Great artist I get compliments every where I go for my little deadpool. I would recommend this place to anyone whos looking for an awsome tattoo

Great skill, great work, great atmosphere, CLEAN! I cant wait to get back for more work!

The work was amazing and the artist was very professional and a good guy. I recommend him to everyone

One of the best new school artists Ive seen, and knows how to do really good photo realism. Only guy Ill let ink me.

Most professional and clean shop I have been to in years, keep up the good work Matt!

Love his work and very professional, Id recommend anyone getting tattoos to go see Matt.

Hes currently helping me fix a disaster of a tattoo. And let me tell u, this man is a miracle worker. He is totally worth the drive (I live in ithaca) and I wont go anywhere else as long as he is around!

Best tattoo artists in Syracuse

Got a piece done by Matt and couldnt be happier.

Matt is awesome... period. His work speaks for it self.

Havent gotten a tattoo yet Ive seen some of there work this looks like the right place gonna call today looks promising

Nates the man

Matt is AMAZING!!!!! If your itching for a new tattoo or add to existing tattoo Make an appointment with Matt...