Remembering Carly Benny: Tattoo Stories
Honoring Carly's tattoo art and impact in our community 💛
Amanda Langworthy
How I met Carly
I met her when I was visiting and decided to get a tattoo last minute.About my tattoo
The tattoo is a portrait of my best friend, Arthur the dog. I’ve had him for close to a decade and had been wanting to honor him for years, bit hadn’t found the right artist. Turns out Carly’s style was perfect for what I was wanting. And now, I still get approached by local folks who recognize her aesthetic.Memory from getting tattooed
My CU friends would always do loving impersonations of her and I was so curious to meet this big personality. She didn’t disappoint. Her voice! Her beautiful smile! Her openness and curiosity were so special and I’m so so grateful that I got to get a piece of her art and call her a friend for even a short time. 
Hillary
How I met Carly
Carly and I were long time friends and opened Benny and Kay hair studio together in 2020! About my tattoo
This was the first tattoo Carly ever did at the Recreation Club. During the shutdown of the pandemic, Carly and I spent almost every day together getting our new salon ready. We grew even closer during that time, and this tattoo symbolizes us growing as women and as business partners together, entering a new phase in our lives with bravery and trust in one another. Memory from getting tattooed
LOL We we’re always egging eachother on, making each other laugh, especially when she tattooed me. It was very hard to sit still and keep our mouths shut! 
Haley
How I met Carly
Bentleys/mutual friendsAbout my tattoo
Wanted something cute and simple that would make me smileMemory from getting tattooed
Finding out we are both aries babes and our birthdays are 2 days apart
Molly M
How I met Carly
Locally and through Instagram!About my tattoo
This was my second CB tattoo that I got matching with my sister, who is my best friend! It was my sister’s first tattoo and every time I see it now, I’m so grateful it was done by Carly. Its reference was the cover art of the Phoebe Bridgers album “Stranger in the Alps,” which is my sister and I’s favorite album + musician. My sister and I share a deep love of music, and it makes it all the more special that Carly was able to ink this for us.Memory from getting tattooed
Carly was playing “Moon Song” by Phoebe in honor of us getting these tattoos, and I remember how much I loved that song after that day!
Leo Flood
How I met Carly
Through Recreation Club About my tattoo
This is a tattoo of a bakery I used to go to with my late grandmother, and the quote was on a painting inside. I wanted to recreate this and Carly agreed to do this special tattoo for me. It reads “the best way to know life is to love many things” Memory from getting tattooed
Carly was always playful, cheery, and bright. I felt she lived up to the quote of the tattoo too; she knew life by loving, all around, loving through people and art and community. I am happy to wear her art on my body, and to keep her memory alive. 
Brock Johnson
How I met Carly
I met her in the service industry but she quickly became a best friend, sister, roommate, inspiration and confidantAbout my tattoo
It’s inspired by Proust’s madeleine. We spoke a lot about nostalgia and remembrance. How it’s important to be present in the moment so in the future we could cherish these experiencesMemory from getting tattooed
We always had a good time 
Morgan
How I met Carly
Carly was my tattoo artistAbout my tattoo
Sailor Moon was my favorite anime growing up. She signified true friendship, and I always admired the art of her eyes, bangs, and moon symbol on her forehead. Memory from getting tattooed
Carly was overly patient with me and kind as the tattoo was so painful! She was reassuring and soft, took her time, and encouraging. She was such a bright and calm presence. 
Madison Ifft
How I met Carly
I was tattooed by her once About my tattoo
This was a last minute decision but i loved her flash work. She was so enthusiastic and kind. It’s still one of the tattoos I get the most compliments on. Memory from getting tattooed
She kept making me laugh and was joyful and kind. The tattoo is placed really uniquely and she encouraged me to take a chance.
Katie Altieri
How I met Carly
I met Carly when we worked together in high school. About my tattoo
She had posted the image as a flash and i NEEDED it. I asked her to add the words. My favorite part is the dot she missed 🤣 she was planning to fix it next time ♥️Memory from getting tattooed
I hadn't seen her in MANY years when I went to get a tattoo from her, but it didn't feel like that. She was always such a ray of light, and this was the best tattoo experience I've ever had. 
Michael
How I met Carly
I met Carly through Brandon, and then I Carly’s little family unit when they came back from their road trip with Cowboy ❤️About my tattoo
HopeMemory from getting tattooed
Carly was so excited to tattoo a lightbulb! She had never done one before and about 2 years later she sent me another persons tattoo of a lightbulb and was equally elated to be doing a lightbulb with plantlike coming out of it ❤️
Lauren Babcock
How I met Carly
I found Carly’s shop downtown and looked her up on instagram. I immediately loved her work and knew she was gonna give me my first tattoo.About my tattoo
I loved her flash designs but didn’t have a ton of money for a tattoo. So I went out on a limb and asked if she would be willing to do an art trade. She said yes! So I made her 3 ceramic pieces and she gave me my first tattoo. Memory from getting tattooed
I went to the appointment with a sibling and my best friend. I remember being immediately comfortable in her studio, and had a fun conversation with everyone before they left to get boba. The time I spent with Carly as she worked was so enjoyable. We just talked about random things to pass the time. It was fun sharing about our art practices back and forth. The whole experience made for a great first tattoo.
Katelyn
How I met Carly
Carly did my first ever tattooAbout my tattoo
The tattoo is a representation of me and my 2 brothers through our respective birth flowers. It is my first tattoo and Carly imbued meaning into it beyond what I could even hope.Memory from getting tattooed
I was so nervous but so excited and Carly made the experience so worthwhile through her super relaxed and happy demeanor. I’ll never forget it.
Aliya
How I met Carly
Carly was my tattoo artist!About my tattoo
I got my first (and second!) tattoo from Carly! She was so incredibly talented and made me feel so comfortable for my tattoos! My first one was from her flash! I thought it was so pretty and I loved Carly’s vibe. As soon as I saw her and her work, I knew I wanted my first tattoo to be by her! My sisters and I went together, and we knew we wanted more from her so we booked an appointment for matching stamp tattoos! Carly designed our tattoos and they were so beautiful! I’m so happy and proud to be carrying her art with me forever 💛✨Memory from getting tattooed
I went with my sisters and we had an amazing time talking with and joking around with Carly. She was so easy to talk to and was so incredibly funny. I particularly remember talking to her about how cute her glass blown sea creature figurines in her studio were! We also talked about her dog, Cowboy, and how cute he is! 
Melissa
How I met Carly
Mutual friends, Champaign legendAbout my tattoo
Carly’s flashMemory from getting tattooed
I had just started a new job and my boss let me leave in the middle of the work day to get tattooed. I saw this on Carly’s flash on Instagram. You're so vain has always brought up memories of my dad and brother. It was one of my favorite songs when I was younger and my brother put it on a birthday mix cd for me. I also loved that Carly was tattooing a Carly Simon lyric on me. Pop punk was playing in the studio and Carly and I bonded over taking back sunday. It was only my third tattoo and Carly was so kind and made me feel at ease. It was so nice running into her at Bentleys and showing her how it healed. 
Abby Chavarria
How I met Carly
She did my first 2 tattoos!About my tattoo
The one of Mona Lisa is for one of my favorite Elton John songs, “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”. The second one I got after I had to make a lot of hard decisions in my life; it’s her flash of a moth.Memory from getting tattooed
She was so spunky and understanding. You could have a conversation with her about anything.
Dayle Dillon
How I met Carly
I met Carly when she brought her dog Cowboy in for a vet visit in the fall of 2021. I immediately complimented her on her tattoos and we began talking about her vision and business. After tending to Cowboy we discussed scheduling a session for my best friend and I to get matching tattoos from her the following month. She made us so relaxed and I felt the same vibe from her every time I saw her and Cowboy at the clinic thereafter. <3About my tattoo
My bff and I have an unhealthy obsession with dinosaurs and Jurassic park and felt a permanent reminder that there is another weirdo out there was perfect thing to haveMemory from getting tattooed
I will never forget how comfortable I was. My friend was more anxious than I and even she became relaxed in Carly’s space surrounded by Carly’s fun energy. 
Jenna Frye
How I met Carly
I met Carly when I moved back to Champaign, through Alex who did my hair. We became close friends and roommates in recent years, traveled together, and had so much fun.About my tattoo
Carly gave me my first and second (and only) tattoos. This one she drew from a photo she saw called Drowning in Sunset. Memory from getting tattooed
She did this at Dark Matter, before she moved into the Rec Club space on 10/8/2019. My grandpa died WHILE she was tattooing me, and we were together when my other grandpa died. I’m so proud and lucky to have been tattooed by my friend, and be able to have it for the rest of my life.
Krista
How I met Carly
Insta/through the Rec Club About my tattoo
The nervous tattoo is inspired by one of my favorite songs, Nervous System by Candi Carpenter. Memory from getting tattooed
Carly created a fun, groovy space to get tattooed at. I was always checking out Instagram, waiting to see what designs she created for the next flash day. At my last appointment with her, we discussed akashic records, reincarnation, and all things metaphysical. 
Lauren
How I met Carly
We’ve worked together since H2O days! Always loved her carefree silly happy vibe! We the. Worked together at Kane & Co for 7 years. About my tattoo
The first tattoo is my son‘s name who is the most important person in the world to me. So that story is self-explanatory!
The second tattoo is a tribute to me staying weird and reminding myself to not take life too seriously. Weird is better than boring! Memory from getting tattooed
I remember when Carly started talking about wanting to tattoo and, if you know, Carly, she does what she says she’s going to do! So, she started working for Jason Donovan at Dark matter and Maxwell was only a couple months old and I brought him in there with me to get my tattoo tribute to him. Not anure if a baby has ever been in that tattoo shop, but he slept right through it!
And it was very important that it was in Carly’s fun handwriting, because I loved it and Maxwells name looked so cool.
About four years later, a couple friends and I had a fun hang out tattoo party, she was a full fledge tattoo artist!! With her own space!!! (the only female one in Champaign at the time) I got leaves and little daisies around his name.
The second pics.. It was the summer of my divorce and I needed to do something fun so I got a little alien baby with the words “stay weird” above my kneecap. It was my birthday, and it was a very weird time so afterwards we went to the brass rail and drank with some friends. 
Jax
How I met Carly
Carly was a friendly face and acquaintance when I was working at Cafe Kopi downtown.About my tattoo
I wanted a tattoo for years but was so particular about the artist I’d work with - especially since I was so afraid of needles. Carly and I talked on and off about the idea of a simple but fun tattoo, and we landed on a beer bottle with cowboy boots. Memory from getting tattooed
Carly made me feel incredibly safe and supported while she worked on my tattoo, and we talked about my upcoming Florida move and all the fun western themed tattoos we could work on next when I came to visit. My appointment was the first time I can remember us having one on one time to gab, and it’s a day I’ll never forget.
Bianca
How I met Carly
My tattoo artist ,Addie, referred me to Carly for a script tattoo! About my tattoo
This is the name of the album that made some of my darkest days better Memory from getting tattooed
Carly had never heard Hot Mulligan before which is the band my tattoo is for. She loved the vibe they gave off! 
Autumn Seaton
How I met Carly
A barista at Hopscotch Bakery recommended Carly!About my tattoo
This is a tattoo of my childhood home. My favorite place in the whole world.Memory from getting tattooed
My sister and boyfriend came with me and as soon as we walked in, we were immediately blown away by the atmosphere. Peace and creativity radiated from the walls. And when Carly walked in, I knew immediately I’d be safe in her hands. Carly was kind, willing to listen to the stories of my childhood home, and made me feel beautiful. What a rare soul. Such transcendence. Carly will be missed dearly. Carly, thank you for bringing such incredible art into my life. 
Hannah
How I met Carly
A friend of a friend of a friend recommended her for my friend's tattoo, and I met Carly at my friend's tattoo consult.About my tattoo
I booked an appointment with Carly for my best friend and I to get matching tattoos when (bff) came to visit me from Washington DC. BFF ended up being sick and couldn't get tattooed, but I kept my appointment, and picked one of my fav designs of Carly’s. She personalized it for me, I loved her eye for design and placement. It was the perfect first tattoo and I cherish it.Memory from getting tattooed
Carly, BFF, and I had so much fun chatting and hanging out while getting my tattoo. I told Carly how much I appreciated getting tattooed from someone with such warm, chill energy, that it made my tattoo even more special, and she agreed it was a bonding experience even between strangers. BFF and I rushed to Pour Bros to show my tattoo to friends right after. I left my card behind at Carly's, and she graciously rushed back to the shop an hour later to return it to me, once we noticed it missing.
Kianna
How I met Carly
I liked one of my coworkers tattoos and she told me Carly had done it and was a great person to get a first tattoo done withAbout my tattoo
The is in honor of my nana. She was born in January so 2 different January flowers on each side of her favorite flower. Carnation, rose, and snowdropsMemory from getting tattooed
She made me feel very relaxed and helped ease my anxiety that I had from other places I had tried to schedule with. I definitely went multiple times to her. Such a sweet soul
Laura
How I met Carly
Smoking cigarettes downtown ages ago but more recently we reconnected and sold my artwork at The Rec ClubAbout my tattoo
I have several Carly tats, but my first is one of her flash pieces (left) and later she designed this hexi quilt block for me (right), which represents my love of sewing and using antique quilt pieces. Memory from getting tattooed
Of course I loved getting a tattoo followed by a drink at the Brass Rail! Such a classic combo. Love you, Carly.
Kaley
How I met Carly
One of my classmates saw her flash and got a piece, and I thought it was super cute so I very quickly wound up getting a few from her as well.About my tattoo
The flowers were part of a few of her flash, and I loved them for the simplicity! The mouse is a custom we worked on together that honors all the research I’ve done, and she was SO thrilled to get to add that cute little guy to my arm. We had a plan to make it look like he was surrounded by flowers eventually as she drew more to add to flash!Memory from getting tattooed
She was always SO cheerful whenever I got tattooed by her and made me feel so comfortable. My favorite memory is when we were talking about traveling, and she started giving me all these tips for an overseas trip I had coming up - you could just tell she had wanderlust in her soul and I loved it. 
Lisa Gundersen
How I met Carly
She worked in the hair salon next to my furniture store About my tattoo
It reminds me of my home in Southern California Memory from getting tattooed
It tickled so my foot kept shaking and she thought that was hilarious ♥️
Morgan
How I met Carly
I first saw Carly’s art on instagram loved it so much I booked an appointment with her as a present to myself for my 30th birthday.About my tattoo
I wanted to add to my half sleeve dedicated to my cat and dog. I was thrilled when I reached out to Carly to ask if she would be willing to draw them & she agreed. All of my prior tattoos had been done during walk-in visits to random shops with random artists so I was anxious to personally reach out and schedule a future appointment with an artist I had been following on instagram. Carly was incredibly nice and helpful during the process of scheduling my tattoo with her. I will always be thankful for that.Memory from getting tattooed
I drove 2 hours to my appointment with Carly the day before my 30th birthday. Once I got there she presented me with not just one, but two options for tattoos she had drawn up. It was hard to decide which one I wanted because I loved them both so much. She let me keep the drawings of the piece I didn’t choose to get tattooed. It is still hanging on my refrigerator today. Carly made me feel so welcome and comfortable during my appointment. She really helped make my birthday a special one. I love my tattoo so much and get compliments on it all the time. She did a beautiful job. I am grateful our paths crossed. Rest in peace, Carly.
Liv
How I met Carly
Working and hanging out downtown About my tattoo
My party hat is from a song that means a lot to me and i knew i could trust carly to make it exactly what i wanted and needed. she exceeded my expectations of what i imagined this tattoo would look like. my knee tattoos are on a whim and the first tattoos i had gotten from carly. i just loved her style of artwork and had friends who were tattooed by her. Memory from getting tattooed
I felt so so safe in her chair. It was so easy to talk to her about anything and she made sure I was in love with the work she did. Being tattooed by her was our first meeting and every time i would see her out after the fact it was like seeing an old friend. She exuded such light and love to anyone that crossed her path. 
nila
How I met Carly
I met Carly in May of 2022. She helped me get my first tattoos, and designed them with such care and really took care of me with how nervous I was to get them. I am so grateful to her, she will be missed. About my tattoo
It’s a tattoo to represent gender expansiveness with lavender and a shell. Memory from getting tattooed
I remember how happy I was when the tattoos were finished - they were everything I’d ever wanted. And I remember thinking I wanted to go back to Carly at some point if I could. 
Kennedy
How I met Carly
Through Instagram, she was having a flashAbout my tattoo
I get tattoos for my favorite national parks I visit. This one is a reindeer lichen, which grows in Acadia NP. Memory from getting tattooed
Talking to Carly was like talking to an old friend. We always shared stories about our recent and upcoming travels. She did my first 4 tattoos, and she made me feel so comfortable and safe.
I got this tattoo one day in summer ‘23, and when I was there she told me she was having a flash that evening. I came back the same day for a second tattoo, partly because I just wanted to keep chatting with her. That day she told me her story of becoming a tattoo artist and the obstacles and sexism she had to face. She was a remarkable person.
Sarah
How I met Carly
My work supervisor had gone to Carly for her hair. Several of my coworkers discovered her tattoos and before long, we were all dawning her art!About my tattoo
I just wanted to treat myself to something fun and pretty for my birthday after lock down. I loved her floral tattoos and since I have a spring birthday it felt perfect.Memory from getting tattooed
Carly taught me how to breathe through the pain and find peace in the discomfort. I still think of her advice today in tough moments. I only knew her this short time and yet she had a profound impact.
Ré
How I met Carly
She was my stylist and then we connected through friends. About my tattoo
A reminder that my purpose is to be a safe loving place for my girls to always return to. I am someone’s home. Memory from getting tattooed
It was a shit time in my life.
When I said it didn’t hurt. She said, “Yeah. You’re good.” Something I’ll remember when things get tough. 
Missa
How I met Carly
Through a friend I worked with - I believe Carly was one of her lifelong best friends. About my tattoo
Lyrics from one of my favorite songs — I have self-harmed for most of my life and it’s a reminder that even with scars, we are all still beautiful. Memory from getting tattooed
The sun was shining and the weather was perfect for a random day in June. She had the biggest smile and was beyond inviting, checking in multiple times to see how I was doing. 
Caitlin McCoy
How I met Carly
I started seeing the most adorable tattoos on people I knew in Champaign and they were by Carly! I started following and knew I had to get a tattoo from her before I moved away and meet her. About my tattoo
When our family decided to move to Arkansas, I wanted an armadillo tattoo to mark the occasion, as I adore these creatures and they were going to be in my new home state. Memory from getting tattooed
Carly was so nice, made the whole experience relaxing and fun, and I was positive she’d create the perfect armadillo for my arm and she did! The calmest tattoo experience ever. She is and will continue to be very missed from this earth. 
Tess Strang
How I met Carly
Tattoo Flash Sale About my tattoo
one flash sale a friend and I were sitting in the car scrolling through Instagram and Carly’s flash popped up, it was opening in 10 minutes and we just looked at each other, she put the car in drive and we went. We attended three more times and share many memories together with Carly, sharing scars, and silly tattoo stories. 
Maura
How I met Carly
My daughter introduced me About my tattoo
I wanted something that represents migration and Mexico. Memory from getting tattooed
We laughed at the fact two male cardinals were on a Christmas card. 
Maddie
How I met Carly
She was my tattoo artist! About my tattoo
It’s the logo from a video game that I’ve LOVED since I was a kid - waited to get the tattoo until I met an artist I trusted and Carly delivered!Memory from getting tattooed
She was so kind to me.. I have around 4 tattoos from various artists and my experience with her will remain my favorite. We chatted about anything and everything, and she made me feel so comfortable! 
Claire Katz-Mariani
How I met Carly
I interviewed her for a Smile Politely article I wrote on the Recreation Club and knew immediately I wanted to get my very first tattoo at her shop. I had been looking for the right artist and shop for a while! The space was so welcoming and her positivity was infectious. I got the tattoo from her about a month later.About my tattoo
This is an excerpt from a reigious text that has always spoken to me. I always had the idea in my mind that I would go back to her at some point to get the rest of the passage tattooed. It’s written backwards on my body so I can read it when I look in the mirror.Memory from getting tattooed
I remember walking in and being greeted with a smile. The main room smelled of warm, woody incense and the walls were limed with plants. While I got tattooed, acoustic indie played softly in the background. It turned out Carly and I had a lot of music in common.
Justine
How I met Carly
I met Carly through mutual friends around ‘09-‘10 and was fortunate enough to stay in her orbit in some capacity ever sinceAbout my tattoo
I have two pieces from Carly. The first is my beloved cat, Shoshanna, and I regularly tell people that Carly tattooed the most important thing in my life on me while showing her off. The second is a bit of a self-portrait that I got just because. I wanted more work from Carly so I found an excuse and an interesting inspiration picture. Memory from getting tattooed
Carly always had the best music going and was usually playing Sturgill Simpson when I would come in. I loved laughing and joking with her while she worked and sharing travel stories. She knew I didn’t have a great pain tolerance and would do her best to keep me distracted and comfortable. She was always so enthusiastic about anything I pitched to her and really helped me to believe in my own magic, just as she believed in hers. 
Allison
How I met Carly
I’ve gotten tattooed by Carly twiceAbout my tattoo
I’ve gotten a tattoo for my birthday every year and was looking on Instagram for local artists. I had just moved to CU and didn’t really know anyone yet, I feel fortunate she was one of the first people I met on my own after moving here. Memory from getting tattooed
We talked about moving, living in new places, starting The Rec Club, etc. I was nervous to be in a town where I didn’t know anyone and she made me feel welcome every time I saw her. In a room full of strangers, if I saw Carly there I instantly felt comfortable. She was funny and a beam of energy ✨
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