Before opening Starseed Studio, they graduated with a BFA in Art Education and an MFA in Studio Arts focusing on Fibers and Textiles.

After graduating, they pursued a career working in the non-profit sector as Art Education Coordinator for Walker’s Point Center for the Arts; followed by a short term as youth project coordinator at Hmong American Women’s Association.

Much of their ethics and philosophy of practice in tattooing and creating space; is heavily informed by community arts, advocacy, and gender-based violence organizing from previous careers.

They enjoy spending time with family, drinking tea, meditations, tarot reading, mediumship, nature walks, burning affirmation candles, and listening to ghost stories.

From the conception of the tattoo studio, my intentions were to put effort into providing a tattoo experience that was trauma-informed and queer-, trans-, intersex, BIPOC, and femme inclusive.

This means a service that allows for safe options and decisions informed by consent that allows for a client to have the autonomy over decisions that would accommodate their needs or experience.

In establishing my studio, I came across written works by Tamara Santibanez, an NYC based tattoo and visual artist who’s written work laid down the groundwork for trauma-informed tattoo practices as well as “tattooing as liberation work“, a key inspiration in how my tattoo studio practice has been shaped.

Resources:
“Could this be magic: Tattooing as liberation work” Pamphlet by Tamara Santibanez
LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/