Axe of Kindness
At first glance, Axe of Kindness might look like any other tattoo shop. The buzzing of machines, the hum of conversation, and the steady rhythm of ink meeting skin all echo what you’d expect in a studio. But behind every design etched at this Rochester shop, there’s a bigger mission: giving back.
Each month, Axe of Kindness sets aside 10% of its revenue and reinvests it directly into the Rochester community. From the Urban League, to Child Advocacy groups, to Foodlink, that commitment ensures that the art created within their walls carries a ripple effect far beyond them.
The idea took shape during the early days of the pandemic. The shop’s founder Adrien Moses Clark, born in Buffalo and raised in Rochester, was working at another studio when COVID hit. Like many, he spent long days at home reflecting.
“We were all sitting at home watching the rich get richer while the rest of us weren’t. I caught myself complaining about what I would do if I had all that money—and what I thought they should be doing with it. Then it hit me: it doesn’t matter what I’d do with their money. What matters is what I can do with mine.”
That shift in perspective was the spark. Instead of dwelling on what others weren’t doing, he looked inward. He realized his career—tattooing—had given him more than he needed. And with that excess came responsibility.
“I thought, why don’t I do what I can with what I do have?”
So Axe of Kindness was born—not just a tattoo shop, but a vehicle for change. Rooted in Rochester, the shop is dedicated to staying local and serving local. Every dollar that comes through the door helps ink stories on skin while also fueling stories of hope in the community.
It’s more than tattoos. It’s a reminder that generosity doesn’t require millions; it just requires a willingness to share what you already have.
Because kindness leaves its own kind of mark.
