I was born and raised in Nicaragua, surrounded by family of artists. My father was a journalist and poet, my mother a biologist who also dabbled in many artistic expressions. This cultivated a deep appreciation for the arts at an early age.

What really changed my life was painting. Empirically I learn about many artists such as Kandinsky, Monet and other greats. But before then it was just an enthralling process that would make the hours melt away. I had never felt as engaged and alive as I did standing before a canvass.

As one “is supposed to” I pursued a higher education and went to medical school, but 3 years in I couldn’t deny my calling in the arts, my deep desire to create and explore.

I picked up and traveled Central America, settling down in Costa Rica for a couple of years. Where fate led me to start piercing at a friend’s studio, naturally opening a door into the tattoo industry.

After some more years of traveling, and much exploring, I began to close the gap between the paintings and drawings I would make in my free time, to what could be achieve on skin.

I won’t get into how long of a journey it has been, although it’s important to point out that in the 20+ years I have been around the industry, it wasn’t so easy to start back then. Specially with such a freeing style as mine that does not follow any traditional approach (other than sanitation and cleanliness standards of course). Lots of adversity to face, specially with the ongoing stigma of being an outsider and immigrant anywhere I went.

However I wouldn’t change a single thing. I have been shaped by the many adventures, hardships, and travels I did in my 20’s as an artist through Europe. I got to live in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and even France where I can now say I’m fluent in French. Europe in general was eye opening, seeing so much great architecture, food, cultures, museums, and entire worlds in a way. I feel as if I were a global citizen rather than from one place.

After some time in many places in Europe, my vision of art and tattoos was finally meeting. Perhaps it is the craft that is always evolving, or that I myself am too. I may still be a student of my own style, or that the unquenchable thirst for perfection that will never be achieved, but I realized then that there is still more to unravel.

Today I come to reside here in Salt Lake City. I couldn’t have accomplished this stage in my career were it not for the clients that have entrusted their vision to me.

I specialize in Abstracts tattoos, which even though as the term implies does not follow strict rules as other styles, in my opinion harmony and balance must be achieved. This balance is just as physical as it is metaphorical. Each conceptual art piece is cultivated from what the client wants to express, then it is my duty to bring that to life. I want the art work to make you think and feel something about what is in front of you. We could all be staring at something and have different opinions as to what it means, but it becomes “Art” the minute these shades of color stir something in you and make you feel.

I enjoy working in black and grey, but generally my pieces contain color. I don’t really have a favorite tattoo or painting, but I am deeply in love with the process, the creation, in its entirety is the greatest feeling. Giving me a sense of being part of the peace, and then I let it go. Now it is a part of someone else that they will carry with hopefully the same feeling as I put into it.

Thank you for reading.

Hans