Amy was born and raised outside of Washington, DC. Inspired by the riot grrrl and DIY punk scene of the 1990s, as well as the easy access to museums, she got involved in local music, art and activism early. She moved to Tucson Arizona in 2003 to pursue an MFA in painting at the University of Arizona, where she taught figure drawing, painting, and color and composition. Shortly after finishing her degree she began a traditional tattoo apprenticeship under Robert "Mac" McKai at Black Rose Tattooers, with additional mentorship from Tracy Ledbetter.

 

In 2011 Amy moved to Brooklyn, New York and worked at East Side Ink and its sister shop Graceland, and then Three Kings Tattoo. Tattooers Erik von Bartholomaus and Myles Karr provided immense support and guidance. She then moved to Denver, Colorado in 2016 and worked at Lifetime and World Tattoo alongside her husband, Matthew Esswein.

 

As of December 2021, Amy and her family reside in Richmond, Virginia where she works by appointment in a private setting. She continues to play music, and work on photography, zines, and quilting. She would love to teach an art class at the college level again someday.