What got you into the art world of tattooing?

I swear it was some kind of ancestral urge to adorn myself and others that powered the initial drive. When it comes to actually tattooing, a friend of mine, Kator (@katnzinghasdead), taught me the setup and showed me how to use a machine. I was eventually invited to join the tattoo collective @blood_n_stone! It’s a Black queer and trans tattoo collective, and because of Blood & Stone, I was given a space to tattoo, a community of incredible tattoo artists to motivate and inspire me, and a network of love and support. I feel like Blood & Stone is what busted the tattooing world door open for me.

Would you like to own your own shop? If so, where?

I don’t think I’d like to open my own shop, but I would like to do a tattoo tour one day.

What’s the most challenging thing about being an artist?

I think the most challenging thing is usually getting the motivation to do the art in the first place. Sometimes I think of an idea and I wish it could just make itself, lol.

Favorite band or artist you haven’t seen live yet?

I love the band Buck-Tick, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing them ever 🥺 RIP Atsushi Sakurai.

What’s been, hands down, your favorite tattoo you’ve done?

This face I did on my dear sweet friend Jaq (@jaqmastersart) back.

Is there any celebrity or someone close to you that you’d like to tattoo?

I’d love to tattoo Lil Uzi because I think we’d get along well.

If you had to choose, which is your favorite dinosaur?

It’s gotta be a Liopleurodon! I love me a water beast 🐟

Which film can you watch over and over again, and why?

The Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy. I just love the costumes and makeup, the soundtrack, and how they make being small and “powerless” a superpower! It’s so sweet to see such tender relationships between dudes with swords too. The Return of the King Extended is my ultimate comfort movie.

What do you have to say to the young Black tattoo artists coming up?

To be easy on yourself. There’s a lot of unjust judgment in the tattooing world as it is—you don’t have to have a peanut gallery in your brain too.

Shameless plug:

I’m part of a Black trans queer tattoo collective called Blood & Stone (@blood_n_stone). We are based in Philadelphia and focus on creating safe and inclusive spaces for other members of the Black LGBTQ family to come and be adorned. If y’all have the time, it would be really awesome if we could get more exposure so we can reach more people. I know my teammates would be elated 🖤🖤