It Started With Drawing
Before I worked on skin, I drew and painted. I grew up in Cuba and studied at the School of Art Instructors in Matanzas, where I developed the foundation that still shapes how I see color, light and composition.
After graduating, I discovered tattooing. It gave me a different kind of challenge: creating an image that belongs on a person, with all the decisions and responsibility that come with working on skin.
Today, I work in the Kansas City area, focusing primarily on color realism and black & grey.
From Cuba to a New Chapter
My early years as a tattoo artist were spent in Cuba, where I took part in events including Tattooarte, Pura Aguja, Matanzas on the Skin and the Festival del Caribe. These were places to show my work, meet other artists and enter competitions, where I received my first awards and recognitions.
Later, my career took me to Europe. I worked in an established tattoo artist’s studio and attended courses taught by the artist. Seeing different techniques and working methods up close helped me develop my skills and reconsider how I approached my own work.
Moving to the United States meant starting again: building my name, earning people’s trust and finding my place in a new community. In 2023, I entered my first U.S. tattoo convention, The All Star Tattoo Convention in Miami, and received second place in Large Color. That first award marked the beginning of my competitive journey here.
An Artist Before Anything Else
Drawing and painting gave me the foundation for my work, and tattooing has given me more than twelve years of opportunities to develop it. My main focus is color realism and black & grey, with particular attention to detail, composition and how a design follows the body.
Working alongside other artists has been an important part of that growth. Through courses, conventions and collaborations, I’ve continued to expand my technique and develop my own artistic identity.
What keeps me connected to tattooing is the person behind each project. Bringing someone’s ideas, memories or emotions into a piece of art gives the work a meaning beyond the image itself.
Recognition Along the Way
Since my first U.S. convention in Miami, my work has received awards in categories including color realism, sleeves, cover-ups and Best of Show. These recognitions include both individual projects and collaborations with other tattoo artists.
My journey has also included a feature in DGN Tattoo Magazine’s 20th anniversary competition book, together with Top Ten Public Choice recognition and third place in Full Color.
I’ve gathered the tattoos, photographs and results on my awards page, where you can explore each event in more detail.
Starting over in different countries has taught me patience, discipline and the importance of continuing to learn. Art has been the constant through those changes, from drawing and painting as a child to the tattoos I create today.
My family’s support has been with me through every stage. As I continue building my life and work in the Kansas City area, that support remains an essential part of my story.
“Art is the best way to express myself when I don’t know how to articulate it with words.”
— Frank