About Brian Skellie

I sincerely appreciate feedback. If you find something I share to be enlightening, confusing or boring, I want to know.

*Please send comments to: brian@piercing.org or call or message/WhatsApp me at
+1 404 494 0378


Brian celebrates over 30 years of sharing his body art expertise with his clients, colleagues and friends. He specializes in body piercing, safety standards, STATIM autoclaves and HYDRIM automated instrument washers, and is an authorized dealer for the Coltene SciCan family of products. He offers expert consultation and training for streamlined workflow for Body Art Professionals. As a long time member of ASTM International and the Association of Professional Piercers, he develops, interprets and publishes evidence based standards for continual improvement in the field of Body Arts.


Brian W Skellie headshot by Autumn Swisher 2017
Brian W Skellie (photo Autumn Swisher 2017)
Brian W Skellie (photo credit John Balk 2022)
Brian W Skellie (photo John Balk 2022)
headshot (photo John Balk 2023)
Brian W Skellie headshot (photo John Balk 2023)
headshot hair down (photo John Balk 2023)
Brian W Skellie headshot hair down (photo John Balk 2023)
headshot hair up 2023 by John Balk
Brian W Skellie headshot hair up (photo John Balk 2023)

Short Bio for Brian Skellie

Brian founded Piercing Experience in 1992 as a piercer inspired to research and evolve safe body modification and share the results with the community. He is a frequent Association of Professional Piercers contributor ever since the first conference, an active business member since 1996, an educator who has presented many seminars and workshops at conferences all over the world. Former Editor of The Point Journal, Chair of the Media Committee, Treasurer, International Liaison, Medical Liaison, Vice President, and President, now serving as CIO.

Brian provides informative resources in his areas of specialty. He introduced and advanced many novel and effective approaches for body modification such as safe techniques for aseptic (freehand) piercing without clamps, aseptic non touch technique with instruments, single use instrument options, anodization, studio setup, instrument management, sterilization and infection prevention. He has been instrumental for guidance and standards in support of the rights and responsibilities of professional body artists on a local and international level.

Beside piercing, he is an infection control expert focused on the efficient use and validation of cleaning and sterilization. He has invested years of study into the question, “how clean is clean enough?” and participated as a member of ASTM and AAMI in the interest of adapting effective methods for our trade.

An active member of the ASTM committee F04 on medical and surgical devices and implants and related subcommittees, Brian works with applications of biomaterials science for body art safety and expanding jewelry options. He develops, interprets and publishes evidence based standards for continual improvement in our field. He promotes the use of current and timely research based standards for the benefit of clients and colleagues worldwide.

In the 1990’s he became an authorized independent dealer of the SciCan family of infection control products to make them more accessible for body artists. He offers both equipment and specific training on the safe operation and maintenance of automated instrument washers such as HYDRIM, and sterilizers such as STATIM, STATCLAVE and BRAVO autoclaves.

Brian is eager to help find credible answers to our questions to further enhance our profession. His goal is the ethical advancement of quality for all aspects of body modification from conscience to science. Most importantly, he is interested in sharing ideas with you.


Biographical Information:

Brian W Skellie :  Piercer/Founder — Piercing Experience est. 1992

Body Art specialist:

  • Aseptic body piercing techniques without clamps
    (formerly known as Freehand)
  • Piercing equipment, techniques and technology
  • Infection prevention technology and practices
  • Jewelry materials and quality control
  • Anodization for body jewelry

Materials specialist:

  • Biomedical materials standards as they relate to body arts.
  • Member of ASTM committees:
    • F04 Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices
    • F04.11 Polymeric Materials
    • F04.12 Metallurgical Materials
    • F04.13 Ceramic Materials
    • F04.15 Material Test Methods
    • F04.16 Biocompatibility Test Methods
    • F15.24 Jewelry

Infection Prevention specialist in the following subjects:

  • Autoclaves and sterilization:  Statim expert.
  • Washer-disinfectors and instrument processing: Hydrim expert.
  • Cleaners and disinfectants: Optim 1
  • Water treatment and distillers: AquaStat, VistaPure

APP Involvement

  • 1996-Present Active Business Member
  • 1997-99 appointed APP Treasurer
  • 1997-99 Editor & Co-Editor with Raquel and Jeffrey Martin of The Point Journal
  • 1997-Present Provided numerous APP continuing education seminars on a wide variety of topics such as: ASTM standards for jewelry quality, sterilization, and advanced piercing techniques
  • 1998 Co-organized the annual conference at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
  • 2005 “Best freehand piercer” award for piercing without clamps
  • 2006 Advanced Studio Set-Up with Steve Joyner (CoRE) and Joel Burgess (ModBase software) with focus on single use equipment
  • 2007 Sterilization and equipment management (STATIM and HYDRIM section) with President Alicia Cardenas and David A Vidra (HealthEducators)
  • 2008 & 2009 STATIM 101 with Eric Anderson, Steve Joyner and Sky Renfro (PPIS)
  • 2010 Biocompatibility Testing with Bethrah Szumski (co-contributor)
  • 2010 APP workshops -a hands-on approach to studio set up, cross contamination prevention, autoclave/Statim usage all within a “studio environment.”
  • 2011 Working with a Statim autoclave
  • and many more
  • 2014 President’s Award from Elayne Angel
  • 2010-2013 APP International Liaison
  • 2013-2015 APP President
  • 2016-2019 APP Medical Liaison
  • 2019-2023 APP Vice President
  • 2019-present APP CIO

Industry involvement

  • 1992 founded Piercing Experience studio in Atlanta GA
  • 1995-present developed Statim autoclave utilization for body art
  • 1996-present authorized SciCan medical dealer for Tattoo and Body Art:  https://statim.us/
  • 1996-2007 AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) member (ST79)
  • 1996-Present ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) voting member active in Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices and F15 on Consumer Products
  • Interviewed for CNN, FOX, USA Today and many other news outlets
  • Provided educational information for health department inspectors, NEHA, NIOSH and CDC
  • About.com AllExperts.com Body Art section expert (answered over 5000 questions from 2001-2017)
  • Speaking, offering seminars and workshops in USA, UK, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and online for over twenty years.
  • and much more

Selected Publications

Advanced Piercing Techniques: Piercing Without Tools
An easier way to work
Volume 2 — Below the neck 

Featuring piercing with blade needles by
Brian Skellie, Chris Glunt, Ruben Lew & Ron Garza.

RON GARZA DVD 2 Advanced piercing techniques

Contributor to rec.arts.bodyart 
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I would like to recognize and thank the following piercers, jewelry manufacturers, and enthusiasts for their contributions:

The Association of Professional Piercers https://www.safepiercing.org
Keith Alexander of Modern American Body Arts, RIP
Elayne Angel of Rings of Desire, https://www.ringsofdesire.com
Dave Anthony Vidra of Body Work Productions, https://www.hlthedu.com
Eerin Atkinson of Sine Qua Non, RIP
Barry Blanchard of Anatometal, https://www.anatometal.com
Tom Brazda of Stainless Studios, https://www.stainless-studios.com/
Sean Christian of Antometal, https://www.anatometal.com
Kevin Cook, Manager of the Piercing Links List https://www.geocities.com/soho/cafe/8816/list.html
Michaela Grey, formerly of Gauntlet and the Association of Professional Piercers
Michael Hare of The Exotic Body, https://www.exoticbody.com
Karen Hurt of Future Primitives
Shannon Larratt of the Body Modification Ezine https://www.bme.freeq.com
Lynne Tatum Little, R.D.H.
Derek Lowe of Body Work Productions, https://www.saintsabrinas.com
Denise Robinson of Ambient, https://www.ambient.on.ca
Brian Skellie of Piercing Experience, https://www.piercing.org
Jim Ward, formerly of Gauntlet
John Ward, M.D., aka “Dr. Jack,”

https://www.faqs.org/faqs/bodyart/piercing-faq/introduction/ —Greenblatt, Anne (2000)
Cover of the book

Body Piercing Is a Spiritual Experience

Brian Skellie of piercing.org interviewed

A professional body piercer, Brian Skellie discusses the traditions of his craft and the trend of better and safer body piercing within the industry.

Social Issues Firsthand: Body Piercing and Tattoos,
by Stefan Kiesbye, pg 78-83