Today we’d like to introduce you to Yoel Parra Guerra.
Hi Yoel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in a small town in Cuba called Holguin, and had very humble beginnings even by Cuban standards. I was born an artist and spent all my time studying classical applications of art around the world beginning in Holguin. At 15 years old, I enrolled myself in a local art school and had a passion for painting. By the age of 17, I was out on my own, and at age 21, I got on a bus to Havana with my dreams and $20 in my pocket.
At first life in Havana was rough, there were nights when I had nowhere to live and I slept outside on porches. One night I was awoken by a guy in a park who loved my tattoos and we started talking. After some rum and a conversation, I booked my first job as a tattoo artist and my career began.
I quickly became known in the Tattoo scene in Havana because my work was so radical, different, and purely artistic. I made many friends in the Art / Music / Movie scene in Havana and I grew as an Artist like I always dreamed of in Holguin.
After 10 years, I built my business up to be one of the most sought after, and respected tattoo artists in Havana. I was working 7 days a week, 12 hours a days, and still had a 2-month waiting list!!
The secret to my success is that I consider myself a classical artist first that does tattoos. I work tirelessly to ensure every piece is unique and something I believe in. I’ll work on it for hours on canvas before I put it on anyone’s skin.
Recently artists in my circle were being targeted and oppressed by the Cuban government as they viewed our circle of free thinkers as a threat. My wife Lisandra and I (also an artist) had no choice but to leave our loved ones and home to flee for our safety. We braved the difficult journey to the United States and are now here legally as asylum seekers.
I set up my own chair at my shop in South Austin, and my new adventure begins in this amazing City! Local artists have been so welcoming and I’m so excited to be here to share my work in such a vibrant Artist paradise.
PS HEB is amazing, I love East Austin, and I’ve never seen more paintbrushes in my life than when I first went to Michaels!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been faced with challenges my whole way, none greater than the fight to come to America.
My father was an alcoholic, I left my mother’s house before I was 17, I showed up to Havana homeless with $20 in my pocket, started my business there from scratch, and made it here to Austin, Texas where I’m beginning again “de nuevo”.
I’m blessed to have such experiences, my wife, my friends and family here in town, and such a welcoming community in Austin!!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an artist first, and painting is my first love. In that same regard, I’m not interested in categorizing or labeling my work, or fine-tuning any specific technique. Influences yes I have several, which are apparent in my creations like Trash Polka, Watercolor, Drag Pointillism; but that’s more of a visual or resource to work from. I don’t see them as an assumed style, but they are resources that I use depending on whatever the design asks of me, the skin I’m working on, the shape, color.
Finding a word that identifies my work the most is irrelevant I’m not that interested in perfection sense of having a well-tattooed line or a well shadow done. In the end, I am marking the skin and using it as a base to work; the closest thing to painting. I don’t like to have a limit when doing my work because it is very expressive and fluid. I see it as a volume and a space only restricted by the body itself. From then on it is what the job asks of me and customers almost always agree with that.
What matters most to you?
There are tons of philosophical answers to this question, but most importantly, I want to share the work I love with new friends in the city of Austin and begin my life and business here.
However, I’m always open to sharing a drink and going deep, especially when working with clients on their next piece!!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @garabato.tattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoelParraGuerra
Image Credits
The photo of the two men credited to Yary Guirado Alejo.
