Owner of Inknation Darwin Enriquez Is On a Mission To Create A Studio Where A Diversity of Skilled Tattoo Artists Come Together
Darwin Enriquez is not just an award-winning tattoo artist with more than 25 years’ experience of creating incredible art on a skin canvas. He is an artist and entrepreneur with a mission and a vision.
Speaking to Darwin from his minimalist, stylish and modern studio with incredible views of New York, you immediately get the sense of drive he has, and the love he has for his craft. His passion for creating amazing work and working with talented people is contagious.
“It is about the art and the experience,” says Darwin. These two aspects of his business drive the vision and the commitment of his studio, Inknation. The people he works with – those he creates his art on, and those who form part of his studio of artists, understand that these are his drivers. His works are unique, bespoke pieces of art (just check out his incredible Instagram feed), and his aim is to create a memorable experience for his customers and those he brings along to work with him.
While Inknation is a relatively new studio in the tattoo world, Darwin already has a plethora of clients lining up to have their bodies emblazoned with his creativity along with those of the diverse artists that have joined him from around the world.
Darwin has artists working in the studio who originally learnt the art of tattooing in their home countries across Latin America. His artists hail from Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Peru and Ecuador, and he plans on adding to his repertoire of artists by extending his studio onto another floor of the building he operates from.
He is committed to giving artists from Latin America and the rest of the world the chance to grow and build their profile. Diversity drives him. It’s good for his business and for the customer, as each artist specializes in their own style, giving customers multitudes of specializations to choose from.
We got to ask him a few questions about his plans for the future and why he is focused on creating an environment that nurtures talent and enriches the lives of other artists.
Do you have a personal vision?
I have always been an artist. Since I was small, I have been painting and drawing. The skin is a canvas. It’s my medium. My vision right now is putting together a place where artists can evolve and learn. We want the best artists from Latin America working together and learning from each other, and from me. I want tattoo artists who are hungry to learn, but have also received recognition in the style of work they specialize in.
What makes Inknation a destination studio in New York when there are so many to choose from?
We do a great job! We’re a new studio and are already getting amazing clients and artists wanting to work with us. It’s also not an old-style studio. We’re on the 18th floor in the heart of New York, with an amazing rooftop, and our studio is modern, innovative, and clean.
After working in a number of studios and having many different experiences, I wanted to create a space where customers and artists had a different experience from what I saw in other studios. The artist and the customer come first. That is why we have a list of artists who have asked if they can work with us.
How do you choose who gets to work with you?
They need a good reputation and a minimum of five years’ experience in tattooing. It also depends on the work they do, but we mostly look at how the artist works, how they express themselves, and the way they work with clients. We first invite them as guests to try them out to see if they will fit.
For me the most important thing is the art. We don’t want copy-and-paste artists. I like people who can paint and have creativity.
Why is diversity so important to you?
I am Latin American and I already have recognition and a following who look up to me. There are many artists who I have worked with and taught, and now they are growing. I had a studio in Venezuela, appeared at conventions and judged a lot of competitions, and after moving to New York and working in one of the best studios in the city, I decided to do something different for the artists when I started my own studio.
There are also really good tattoo artists in Venezuela, for example, who deserve to have their work shared more. We are also not just looking at getting in artists from Latin America. We want to open up to all types of artists from all over.
I find that people who are already in the United States aren’t necessarily as hungry as someone who has just got their visa and is coming here to change their whole lives. They want to stand out. They are like me! I like people that are driven to learn, to work together, and want to do art.
How do you help your artists grow?
We help them grow their artistic techniques. We’re looking into doing seminars in the future where people can learn color, 3D or black-and-gray. We also want people to learn and innovate when they come here so that when they leave in two or three years they can open up their own studios because of what they have learnt.
You could just be a tattoo artist and make a good living doing that. Why is it so important for you to teach others?
I feel good doing it. When I started out I felt like some of the artists were jealous or didn’t want to share what they did. It felt competitive. I’ve never been like that. I’ve always shared information about how I’ve done things and I feel good doing that. I like to motivate people and help them.
I have no secrets and I guess that is why I am where I am today, with so many people wanting to join us. It is important for me that the artists who join here feel like they are working together and part of a group that is learning from me and from each other.
What is in the future for you and your studio?
We are expanding. We’re growing. More guest artists. More in-house artists. We’re going to redesign the studio. We want to keep our artists amazed. Lots of learnings, seminars, and focusing on having the best artists.
You can find out more on the uniqueness of Darwin’s artistry at https://darwinenriquez.com/.
Media Contact:
Clive Vanderwagen, Writer
