Today we’d like to introduce you to Nika Urban
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
First, before tattooing I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I went to art school and worked as a freelance artist and had some other art related/and non-art related jobs for a while. I became fascinated with tattoos since I got into heavy metal music as a young teenager, and loved how the artwork and music seemed to go hand in hand. From there I became obsessed with reading about the history of tattoos and it was just a dream world that I wanted to be a part of.
Now, I love telling this story. To try and keep it as short as possible: I visited Austin (from my home state of Michigan) in spring of 2017 with no intention of moving there, it was just a visit. At the time, I was still searching for a tattoo apprenticeship after a previous apprenticeship didn’t end up working out. It took years to find another opportunity. Anyways, I wasn’t actively looking for that to happen in Austin, but I was definitely at the right place at the right time because I ended up getting connected with Wendi Ramirez, who would become my mentor. It was as if the stars aligned. So, after that, I moved to Austin pretty quickly and began my apprenticeship. I didn’t have much going on back home but I abruptly dropped everything and made the move, because nothing was going to hold me back from seizing that opportunity. I got extremely lucky, especially since it was such a great fit working at her shop (Dovetail Tattoo).
I worked at Dovetail for 7 years and then moved back to Michigan for a year- but I’m moving back to Austin again this year where I’ll be at Dovetail again. While in Michigan I would go back to Dovetail and do guest spots a handful of times.
The chaos of moving is worth it when you find a place that suits you!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was definitely not an easy road in the beginning. My dad drove me down to Austin from metro Detroit, Michigan, with only a few of my belongings. I stayed at my friends’ place for about a couple months while I apprenticed, and worked to saved money for an apartment (I am forever grateful for those friends!). I ended up getting an apartment with a roommate and that went pretty smoothly. But life was not easy during my apprenticeship; I got up at around 6 in the morning to go to work at my day job, then after work I went to the shop and stayed there until anywhere between 9pm or sometimes 11pm or later. I barely ate or slept. I did this almost every day for a year and a half or so, until I quit the day job. My apprenticeship was completed after its 2 year mark, but luckily I was able to survive off of tattooing a little before that.
Honestly, as cliche as it sounds, the struggles made me appreciate what I have now so much more. It was all worth it, and I can look back on it now as a crucially important part of the journey. I am thankful for that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
With my personal artwork, I mainly draw with charcoal. My style could be described as dark surrealism, or perhaps dark esoteric art. I draw inspiration from classical artwork, nature, and metaphysical themes.
My tattoo work reflects similar ideas pretty closely. I do black and grey/blackwork tattoos which I’d describe as “illustrative.” Not realism, but sort of close? My favorite themes to tattoo are skulls, evil looking animals/creatures, certain types of portraits… But the weirder and more wild, the better!
I am most satisfied with of all of my large scale works, whether it’s my drawings or tattoos. There is something deeply rewarding when you complete a project that you pour your soul into for such a long time. With tattooing, this is especially true when the client gives you that level of trust and commitment. It’s truly an honor.
If I had to think of something that distinguishes my work from others, maybe it would just be my natural “style.” I guess I have a way of shading in both my charcoal drawings and my tattoos that is hopefully recognizable as my own work.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
That’s a great question. Tattooing has changed so quickly within such a short time, and I see how it continues to evolve at a rapid pace. It’s hard for me to picture what it will be like in 5-10 years because of how it is now; everything is so advanced. The art of tattooing has been taken to the next level! It’s pretty amazing to see. Technology has made a lot of parts about tattooing a lot easier or more convenient, and I feel like that part will continue to advance in the future. But the way I see it, is in the end, tattooing is an ancient craft and a sacred practice. It’s one of the few occupations left in the creative world where you don’t need any technology if that is what you chose. I think that is something really special about tattooing, especially now in the modern world. There will be shifts and trends, but in the end, the most fundamental elements of tattooing are what remained consistent for the longest time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikaurbanartwork.com
- Instagram: @nikaurbanartwork
Image Credits
Photos all taken by me
