Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Vaatete.
Hi Alexis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has been a part of my life for as far back as I can remember. As a kid, I had a limitless imagination, and drawing became the way I brought the things I saw in my mind to life. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those early years were building the foundation for everything I would eventually become.
My heritage played a major role in shaping my path. My father is Marquesan, so Polynesian culture was always present in my life. I grew up hearing his stories and looking through books about the islands, the people, and their traditions. Tattooing, in particular, had a deep cultural significance. That was really my first exposure to tattoos, not simply as decoration, but as something connected to identity, history, storytelling, and ancestry.
At the same time, growing up in Southern California exposed me to a completely different side of tattoo culture. I was surrounded by the urban art and tattoo scene of Los Angeles and Orange County. I think having those two worlds around me, the traditions of my Polynesian heritage and the contemporary tattoo culture of Southern California, gave me a unique perspective on what tattooing could be.
Before tattooing became my profession, painting was another major part of my development. I spent several years in Humboldt County, where I began showing paintings at small galleries during local art nights. Painting gave me another way to explore the things that have always fascinated me, the beauty and tragedy of life, emotion, imagination, symbolism, and the contrast between darkness and light.
Then, at 24 years old, my life changed.
A mutual friend in Tahoe told me there was someone in Southern California I needed to meet if I was serious about pursuing art. I basically showed up with a car full of paintings and a portfolio of drawings and met Franco Vescovi at Orange County Inkhouse in Lake Forest. Franco looked through my work and offered me an apprenticeship.
That opportunity became one of the defining moments of my life. I spent three years apprenticing under Franco, learning the fundamentals of tattooing and, more importantly, developing a respect for the craft and the responsibility that comes with putting permanent artwork on another person. I knew how rare the opportunity was, so I worked relentlessly. I wanted to absorb everything I possibly could.
What began as an apprenticeship eventually became a career and a lifelong friendship. All these years later, Franco remains a close friend and mentor, and I continue to work alongside him at Vatican Studios.
Over the years, tattooing has taken me places I never could have imagined when I was that kid drawing from comic book cards. It has introduced me to incredible artists, collectors, cultures, and experiences that have continually challenged me to grow. I’ve been fortunate to develop my work around realism, portraiture, surrealism, large-scale composition, and freehand tattooing while continuing to evolve my own artistic language.
One of the biggest developments in my work has been learning to trust my imagination again, the same imagination I had as a kid.
Today, much of my work begins directly on the body. I love creating freehand because it allows me to design specifically for the person in front of me rather than forcing an image onto their anatomy. I can respond to the movement of the body, its structure, and the natural flow of the composition. Projects like my OwlKing series and my Risen phoenix work have allowed me to combine realism with symbolism, storytelling, and imagination in a way that feels very personal to me.
But as important as art has been to my life, my perspective on success has changed tremendously over the years.
When I was younger, so much of my focus was on becoming the best artist I could possibly be. Today, I’m a husband and a father, and my family has given all of that ambition a greater purpose. They are the reason I continue pushing myself, not only creatively, but as a man. I want my children to see what it looks like to dedicate yourself to something, to work through uncertainty, to remain a student of your craft, and to build something meaningful through consistency and sacrifice.
When I look back, the journey makes sense in a way it couldn’t have while I was living through it. The kid drawing endlessly, my Polynesian heritage, the years spent painting, taking a chance and moving, walking into Franco’s shop with a portfolio and a car full of paintings, the apprenticeship, and all the years behind the tattoo machine, they’re all chapters of the same story.
And I still feel like I’m writing it.
Art has never simply been what I do. It has always been how I understand the world, how I communicate, and how I leave a piece of myself behind. My goal now is to continue evolving, continue creating work that has meaning, and ultimately build a body of work and a legacy that my family can be proud of.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think it was supposed to be.
Anything worth building is going to test you. There have been long days, uncertainty, sacrifice, financial pressure, self-doubt, and plenty of moments where walking away would have been easier than continuing.
Early on, there were no guarantees. When I moved my family back to Southern California, I had a car full of paintings, a portfolio, and the belief that I could make something out of what I had been given. When Franco gave me the opportunity to apprentice, I knew it was up to me to earn what came next.
Over the years, I’ve learned that struggle has a purpose. It exposes your weaknesses, keeps you humble, and forces you to grow. Some of my hardest seasons have made me a better artist, businessman, husband, and father.
Having a family has also given everything more purpose. I want my children to see that you don’t build something meaningful by avoiding difficult things. You stay disciplined, keep your head down, and continue moving forward.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t ask for a smoother one. The difficult parts helped build the man and artist I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is primarily focused on freehand, surrealism, portraiture, and large-scale custom tattooing. Over the years, I’ve become especially known for my freehand work and my Owlking and Risen phoenix pieces, where I’m able to combine realism with imagination, symbolism, and storytelling.
A lot of my process starts directly on the body. Rather than forcing a predetermined design into a space, I study the person’s anatomy, movement, and natural flow and build the composition around them. I want the tattoo to feel like it belongs there. Every piece should be individual to the person wearing it.
What sets my work apart is that I’m not interested in simply reproducing an image. I want to create something with presence…something that has movement, emotion, depth, and meaning. I’ve spent years developing my ability to trust my instincts and imagination while still respecting the technical side of the craft.
What I’m most proud of is the body of work I’ve built and the relationships I’ve developed with my collectors. Having someone trust me with their story, their skin, and sometimes years of work is something I don’t take lightly.
After more than two decades in art and tattooing, I’m still hungry to evolve. I don’t want to be known for staying comfortable. I want to be known for pushing my work forward, respecting the craft, and creating pieces that still carry weight long after they leave the studio.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice would be to stay patient, stay humble, and respect the process. Don’t be in such a hurry to be recognized. Put that energy into becoming undeniable at your craft.
Learn the fundamentals, study the artists who came before you, and never allow yourself to believe you’ve learned enough. Talent might open a door, but discipline, consistency, and work ethic are what keep you in the room.
Most importantly, understand your “why.” There will be seasons when motivation disappears. If your purpose is strong enough, you’ll keep showing up anyway. More than two decades later, I still consider myself a student. The moment you think you’ve mastered your craft is probably the moment you stop growing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexisvaateteart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexisvaateteart/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexisVaateteArt/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@alexisvaateteart?reload=9
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisvaateteart?lang=en
