Reverie Collective Hopes to Create Community Around Tattooing

NEWBERG, Ore. — Newberg is preparing to welcome its third tattoo studio in the coming weeks as a Newberg native returns to her hometown, hoping to create a community around body artistry.

Reverie Collective, a new tattoo studio at 117 N. Blaine St., plans to hold its grand opening Nov. 25, welcoming the community to a collaborative art space led by Newberg native Abbie Steele, owner of A Thin Line Tattoo Studio.

“It definitely feels really fast,” Steele said. “But when the right opportunities come, you just have to jump, even though sometimes it’s scary or you’re unsure. I’ve always been confident in myself and my dreams, and so when the opportunity arises, I jump.”

Steele, 25, has lived in Newberg most of her life, with a brief stint in Carlton. She began tattooing five years ago and graduated from Arcadia Tattoo School in Forest Grove in 2022. She briefly worked at Apollo Art Cooperative in McMinnville before opening A Thin Line Studio, her own private space.

“Pretty much every year after graduation, I’ve moved studios,” she said. “Each time I’ve moved, I’ve learned something new that helps my business. Opening my own cooperative shop now feels fast, but it also feels right for where I’m at.”

Her personal specialty is black and gray fine-line tattoos, often inspired by the natural world and Japanese art. She also works in other styles and looks forward to welcoming artists with different creative approaches.

Reverie Collective is a cooperative studio featuring three private rooms and one large collaborative tattoo space that can seat five customers at a time. One private studio will host Steele’s A Thin Line Tattoo brand, while the others will be rented to independent artists.

“Creating Reverie and inviting artists within the space, I really plan on having it be the foundation for artists to grow,” Steele said. “So I’m really excited. I love community. I’ve always been very community-driven.”

The business will offer both appointments and regular walk-in events surrounding other community events like First Friday ARTwalk. Studio hours will be Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., with individual artist schedules available online.

The space, which Steele largely renovated herself, is designed to be inviting and comfortable. The front lobby includes couches and chairs with complimentary coffee and snacks for waiting customers. The open-floor tattoo area also has plush seating in the corner to create a welcoming atmosphere. The entire building is ADA accessible.

“I want to create a community around this space,” she said. “For some people, tattooing is where they find their people, but it can also be a scary experience for first-timers. We want to be welcoming, accepting, and nonjudgmental.”

Steele said she personally interviews each artist interested in renting a space to ensure a good cultural fit. Client care, she added, has been her top priority since beginning her tattoo career—a focus that has paid off both personally and professionally.

“There’s still a bit of a stigma around tattoos, and I’ve definitely felt that a little bit within Newberg itself,” Steele said. “So we’re inviting the community to come in and see that tattoos don’t have to be such a grungy, rebellious thing. They can be very elevated and high-class while still being financially attainable.”

Reverie Collective will be Newberg’s third tattoo studio. Gilded Heart Tattoo, located at 211 E. First St., opened in 2014. Fades and Shades, a combination tattoo parlor and barber shop, opened at 2115 Portland Road in 2024.

Learn more at Reverie Collective’s Instagram page. Tattoo artists interested in joining Reverie Collective can apply by filling out an online form application.

Correction Nov. 12 at 8:39 p.m.—The photo captions originally named the Reverie Collective owner as Annie Steele. Her name is Abbie Steele. Newsberg regrets the error.