On the same weekend of “Black Friday” and barely weeks away from Christmas, the Lisbon Tattoo Rock Fest held its event on that long weekend at the “Tejo Sala” conference building, which is annexed to the Altice Arena and with a beautiful view of the Tagus / Tejo river. Entering the Lisbon Tattoo Rock Fest, […]
Category: Interviews
Yanina Viland: Painting, Tattooing and Creating Positive Experiences
We met up with tattoo artist Yanina Viland in her new private studio in Lisbon, Portugal, located in the traditional part of the city that overlooks the Tagus river. She smiled, showing us her balcony—the outdoor space where she spends time just chilling and collecting thoughts. Her dog BB King, a friendly mutt she adopted […]
Chris Garver Interview: Tattooing from the Gutter to the Top
In a summarized historical explanation, the “Tattoo Renaissance” began in the late 1950s with tattooers like Lyle Tuttle, Don Nolan, Zeke Owens, Ed Hardy, and others pioneering the way. “Between the hippie movement of the late ‘60s and the feminist campaigns and rights movements, the tattoo industry saw itself in the midst of a rebirth […]
Jenna Kerr Interview: On Design, Passion, and Flight
If you have an eye for Baroque and Art Nouveau-inspired tattoos then you might already be familiar with Jenna Kerr’s work. Her work has certainly garnered attention over the last few years; glistening gemstones and intricate gold inlay brought to life in staggering detail. The style in which they are evoked calls directly back to […]
Kavan the Kid Interview: Art Saved His Life
American photographer Kavan the Kid has expressed his disquiet emotions in the surrealist imagery that he produces. Fears, anxiety, depression are aspects unfolded in his visuals, and he talks openly about these personal struggles in this interview. He has collaborated with Human Code to create a candle with his artwork, to be sold online and […]
Minimalism: Tattoos by Berlin-Based Artist Mono
Previously working in a private art gallery in Prague, Mono (David Kejr) moved on to focus on his art-making and managing/touring with music bands for four years where he traveled and opened his horizons about life. His real start in tattooing only happened in 2013, when he inked his friends (i.e. exploring styles and techniques) […]
Nikko Hurtado: Work Smart and Be Grateful
We met up with tattooist Nikko Hurtado at the end of a warm-winter day at the conference hall, a building located across the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Pasadena, where he and other prominent colleagues Joe Capobianco and BJ Betts conducted workshops to aspiring artists. Hurtado, the event co-host and studio owner of Black Anchor, […]
Michela Bottin Interview: NYC, Tattooing, and Scarification
We met and interviewed Michela Bottin in 2017, at the Setubal Tattoo Convention, she was one of the more sought-after tattooists because of her differential style inspired by Japanese and American cartoons. Her colorful tattoos made people smile and that’s likely the reason why she was invited to participate in “Hope vs Cancer” organization, which […]
Tribes of the Future: Interview with Tattooist Hanumantra
“I like the dystopian; what will the future be? [Like “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element”] What would the people look like in the future?” explains Hanumantra about his vision and creation of blackwork as the future of tattooing. This UK-based tattooist Hanumantra spent a decade traveling with his life and business partner Jo Harrison […]
Frederico Rabelo’s Majestic Tattoos Inspired by Art History
“Contemporary tattooing is one of the most important visual languages of our generation,” states Frederico Rabelo, a Brazilian tattooist inspired by art history and giving his intellectual and cultural take on it through skin art. Rabelo studied fine arts in Brazil and Portugal, explored graffiti with his crew in the mid 2000s, and now dedicates […]