MY STORY

I'm tattooing in Noble Art Tattoo Shop in Manhattan, New York City, thinking about my life. Looking back, I wonder - How did I end up here? It's been a journey full of tattoos, and passion.

It started ten years ago, in 2014, in Bogota, Colombia. That's when I first picked up a tattoo machine. Back then, I didn't realize how important that moment would be. Within a year, I found myself learning from renowned artists such as Paul Booth and Stefano Alcantara, absorbing their vision and techniques. Two years later, in 2016, I was in Guadalajara, Mexico, working with Juan Pajo, a well-known tattoo artist. His words stuck with me, pushing me to dedicate myself completely to tattooing.

In 2017, while I was working at Blessing Tattoo Studio in Bogota. I decided to go to Madrid, Spain, to find some new adventures. Later on, I ended up in Sorø, Denmark, because Sebastian Wagner, who was visiting as a tattoo artist, recommended my work to a shop there. I traveled all over the world, from Denmark to Argentina and back again, tattooing wherever I went. I worked at ‘The Handmade Empire’ tattoo shop in Odense, Denmark, and even made appearances in Poland.

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In 2020, I joined 'Iron & Ink' in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I learned from some of the best tattoo artists at that time every day. I realized the importance of considering the healed result and the long-term look of tattoos when I saw my colleagues’ work.

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In 2021, I went to see Dmitry Samohin, a world-renowned tattoo artist in Odessa, Ukraine. His work had inspired me greatly when I was 17 years old.

After that, the Danish government made some strict rules for tattoo shops and artists to follow, like having high hygiene standards and registering the ink we use. This made me realize how important it is to keep everything extremely clean and safe for both me and my clients.

Tattooing Morten Olsen, who's famous for his handball skills, sparked my interest in telling stories through tattoos. We created tattoos of his kids and the Egyptian pyramids because he won a gold medal in Egypt in the Olympics. which made me even more excited about working with passionate clients. Doing a tattoo with a special meaning for soccer player Pierre Emile Højbjerg, with the words 'pain of discipline or pain of regret', made us both feel empowered. Meeting lots of people with strong feelings and seeing different cultural symbols made me believe even more in making positive changes through tattoos. It's amazing how tattoos can show person's journey and what they value.

As I journeyed through Dubai and beyond, I encountered the complexities of societal perceptions surrounding tattoos. Yet, in each conversation, I found wisdom and understanding, guiding me to navigate the delicate balance between art and social norms.

Inspired by Pajo’s words, I sold my businesses and set out to be more than just a tattoo artist - I wanted to be a story teller too. I traveled around the world, tattooing people and hearing their stories. It showed me how amazing and diverse people’s experiences can be.

At this moment, I dream of being one of the best classic realism tattoo artists ever. I aim to create classic tattoos that convey stories capable of touching hearts worldwide, transcending both time and place. Because every tattoo has a story behind it, and sharing those stories can bring us closer together. Let's tattoo our stories and inspire each other on this journey.

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~ Arvey Perez, APZ