About this episode

The episode explores the life of Maud Wagner, one of the first female commercial tattoo artists in the U.S.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and ran off to join the circus until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe. KCUR’s Julie Denesha and Mackenzie Martin explore Wagner’s journey and the permanent mark she left on the world.

People in this episode

Hosts: Julie Denesha, Mackenzie Martin

Topics covered

• tattoo history
• female artists
• circus life
• carnival culture
• Kansas history

Keywords

• Maud Wagner
• tattoo artist
• Kansas
• circus
• female empowerment
• history

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Emporia

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