A Milford tattoo artist has earned top honors at one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest tattoo conventions, bringing national recognition back to downtown Milford.
Delaware Branding Company artist Menna Artese captured first place in the Best Lettering category during the Cruel Summer Tattoo Arts Festival, held July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Jaycees Event Center in Waldorf, Maryland.
Artese’s winning piece featured an intricately scripted scrolling tattoo of the word “Patience” on a client’s calf. The work stood out among entries from more than 150 tattoo artists who traveled from across the country to compete during the three-day festival, which also attracted thousands of tattoo enthusiasts and vendors.
For Artese, the award represents another milestone in a career that began with a childhood dream.
According to a 2019 profile, she knew she wanted to become a tattoo artist by the age of five. She began experimenting with tattooing as a teenager before working in local tattoo shops. After taking a brief break from the profession following the birth of her second child, she returned to tattooing and joined Delaware Branding Company in downtown Milford in 2019.
At the time, Artese said she looked forward to growing alongside the shop’s artists.
“I was excited to work with the guys at Delaware Branding. Any time you get to work with a different group of artists, you learn and grow,” she said.
Artese is known for her versatility, specializing in black-and-grey realism, Chicano-style work, cover-ups, traditional tattoos and lettering—making her latest first-place finish especially fitting.
Her recent success builds on growing recognition beyond Delaware. In 2023, she competed for the cover of Inked Magazine, saying she hoped the national competition would not only advance her career but also shine a spotlight on Milford.
“It would just be great to get my name farther out there than little ole Milford. Maybe I could travel for it, do some guest appearances,” Artese said during that competition.
Delaware Branding Company has become a familiar part of downtown Milford’s creative and business community. Established more than a decade ago, the business combines a full-service tattoo and piercing studio with graphic design, custom apparel, signage and branding services, reflecting its mission of serving both artistic and commercial clients. Delaware Branding Company has operated from 19 N.W. Front St. and has grown alongside Milford’s downtown revitalization, adding artists and expanding its creative services over the years. The business was also recognized as one of the new businesses contributing to downtown Milford’s growth during the city’s economic development efforts.
The Cruel Summer Tattoo Arts Festival is an annual three-day convention featuring live tattooing, industry vendors and judged competitions across numerous tattoo styles. Winning a category places the artist among the top performers at the event and serves as recognition of both technical skill and artistic creativity.
For Artese, the first-place trophy is not only a personal accomplishment but also another example of Milford’s growing reputation as home to talented artists and creative entrepreneurs.
