ABOUT US.
More than a tattoo shop
Heartbreaker Tattoo is an independent Spokane tattoo and piercing studio built around art, individuality, community, and the belief that there should be room for everyone.
Our team brings together artists with different backgrounds, specialties, and perspectives, giving our clients access to a wide range of tattoo styles and experiences under one roof. From custom tattoos and photorealism to cover-ups, piercing, community events, advocacy, and collaborative projects, Heartbreaker has grown into something much bigger than the shop we originally set out to build.
We believe great tattooing starts with great art—but it doesn't end there. The experience matters. The people matter. And the community that supports us matters.
Meet the Owners
Two Artists. Two journeys. One shared passion....A vision for art, culture and community.
Heartbreaker is led by two artists with dramatically different backgrounds and complementary strengths. Together, Tylor Buttolph and Ilia Standish combine tattooing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, art, activism, and community building to continually push Heartbreaker beyond the boundaries of a traditional tattoo studio.
Tylor Buttolph
Co-Owner • Tattoo Artist • Entrepreneur • Community Leader
Tylor Buttolph is a tattoo artist, entrepreneur, activist, and community leader whose work is driven by a lifelong connection to Native community, culture, and advocacy. As President of the American Indian Movement of Montana, leadership and activism aren't simply professional roles for Tylor—they are part of a tradition he has carried throughout his life.
A member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, with family and cultural ties to Native communities across Montana and California, Tylor brings those connections into the work he builds today. He is deeply committed to strengthening community, preserving culture, creating opportunities for Native people, and bringing people together around ideas that can make a meaningful impact.
That mission also led to FACT Customs, a Native beadwork business built around family, activism, culture, and tradition. Through FACT Customs, Tylor has helped connect hundreds of people with authentic Native beadwork and the artists and traditions behind it.
Tylor has been tattooing for seven years, developing particular expertise in photorealism and highly detailed work. His artistic ability is matched by an instinct for entrepreneurship, an exceptional social media presence, and an ability to turn ambitious ideas into action.
At Heartbreaker tattoo, Tylor brings that same vision and drive to building partnerships, creating opportunities, and pushing the shop towards projects bigger than tattooing alone.
Ilia Standish
Co-Owner • Tattoo Artist • Technologist • Creative & Marketing Director
Ilia Standish took an unconventional path to tattooing. With a background in computer science and software development, Ilia spent approximately 15 years at DreamWorks Animation, contributing technology to the production of 23 feature films, including the Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and Madagascar film franchises. Her work included software, pipeline, user-interface, and production technology—combining technical problem-solving with the creative demands of one of the world's best-known animation studios.
Today, she brings that same intersection of art, technology, and problem-solving to Heartbreaker. In addition to tattooing, Ilia leads much of the shop's visual branding, web development, digital marketing, SEO, social media strategy, content development, event promotion, and day-to-day execution of the ideas that continue expanding the Heartbreaker brand.
As a tattoo artist, Ilia's work draws heavily from illustration, high-contrast imagery, vintage printmaking and woodcut influences, bold color, and darker subject matter. But her role at Heartbreaker extends far beyond her own portfolio. She has helped build the systems, campaigns, events, website, and visual identity that allow a growing team of artists and community projects to exist under one recognizable Heartbreaker name.
DIFFERENT STRENGTHS. SHARED VISION.
Heartbreaker works because its leadership doesn't come from two people with identical résumés.
Tylor brings vision, leadership, relationships, culture, entrepreneurship, and an instinct for bringing people together.
Ilia brings technology, systems, design, marketing, execution, and an instinct for turning complicated ideas into something tangible.
Both are artists. Both are entrepreneurs. And both believe that what they've built can be used for something larger than themselves.
That combination has helped Heartbreaker grow from a tattoo studio into an evolving creative and community platform—one that connects tattoo artists, clients, local businesses, musicians, community leaders, organizations, and causes that matter.
ART WITH A PURPOSE
Some of the work we're proudest of can't be measured by the number of tattoos we put through the door.
Heartbreaker has used its platform for MMIW awareness, mental health initiatives, community fundraising, giveaways, local partnerships, special events, and outreach. Our ongoing MMIW work has become an especially important part of that mission, using tattooing to create visibility, conversation, and solidarity around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
As Heartbreaker grows, so does that work.
We continue to collaborate with artists, musicians, businesses, organizations, advocates, and members of our community to find new ways to turn creativity into connection and ideas into action.
BUILT DIFFERENT.
Heartbreaker isn't built around one artist, one aesthetic, or one kind of client.
We've intentionally brought together artists with different specialties, personalities, backgrounds, and perspectives so clients can find the right artist for their idea.
Some people come to us with a piece they've planned for years. Some need an old tattoo transformed. Some discover us through a fundraiser, giveaway, event, MMIW campaign, musician, community partner, or friend—and eventually find themselves sitting in one of our chairs.
However you get here, the goal remains the same:
ART YOU LOVE. DONE RIGHT.
Meet the artists. Explore our work. Come be part of Heartbreaker.