Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramon Nieves.
Ramon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started very young. When I was 14 years old, I decided to go to art school in Venezuela, where I was born and raised. I’ve always loved drawing and painting, so from an early age I knew I wanted to do something related to art. During my last year in art school, a friend introduced me to tattooing, and I was immediately impressed by the idea that art could live on the skin and last almost forever. That really stayed with me. When I was 18, I became very curious about tattooing, and with a lot of sacrifice, my parents bought me my first tattoo machines. They weren’t the best, but for me they meant everything. That’s when I truly fell in love with tattooing. Tattooing has given me so many opportunities. One of the most important was the chance to leave Venezuela at 20 because of the crisis. Since then, tattooing has been my only profession and my way of life. I’m now 30 years old, and I’m still fully dedicated to this craft. I moved to Chile, where my career grew exponentially. My work started to gain international recognition, which eventually allowed me to come to the United States with an O-1 visa for extraordinary abilities. Today, I work in New York City at Ink Nation Studio and also in Charlotte, in my private studio.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been easy at all. First of all, coming from a country with very limited opportunities especially in the arts, was already a big challenge. When I started, the tattoo industry in Venezuela was very small and quite closed. It wasn’t easy to be welcomed or to find someone willing to teach you. At that time, YouTube became a very important tool for me, even though the information available was limited compared to today. Tattooing is also a slow process that requires a lot of patience. Learning takes time, and even now, you never stop learning. On top of that, making real money from tattooing at the beginning is very difficult. Because of that, you have to stay extremely focused on what you want and understand that this is a long process. If you’re patient, consistent, and truly passionate, the results eventually come.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a tattoo artist specializing in custom surrealism compositions, always adapted to the natural anatomical flow of the body. I usually work on large-scale projects designed for arms, legs, backs, and full torso pieces.
What really sets me apart is my approach. I believe art is unique from every perspective, and my work comes from the connection I build with each client. Every piece is personal, there’s a story, an emotion, and a collaboration behind it.
What am I most proud of? Being able to build a future doing what I truly love. I’m also deeply grateful to God, because I see this ability as a gift that comes from Him.
What makes you happy?
Create, every day of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ramonievestattoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramonieves_/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ramonieves_
