Now at the helm of a new studio (the ‘Flow State Gallery’ in Denver) we once again met a tattoo artist who, starting from “Pop Culture” universe, is just ready to tackle new styles in Realism and beyond.
Hi Danny, how has your art evolved in recent years?
Since we last spoke, I’ve gotten deeper into the street art scene, even taking trips to New York, Amsterdam and Valencia for inspiration and to study first hand. It’s led to a wild mix of styles between Realism, Illustrative and graphic text. As always I’m continuing to play with light and the way it can add impact to my work.
Is it still appropriate to call your style “Pop Culture” or does that mix of Color Realism, Portraits, Neon, Graffiti need a new definition today?
The subjects I work with are still largely rooted in Pop Culture, but the actual style needs a new definition for sure. Realism alone rarely satisfies me these days and we’re seeing a push in this new direction industry wide. It’s not quite surrealism, but I’m always trying to push the boundaries of what’s possible to create, something no one has ever seen before. With that in mind, the proper title might be “Realistic Avant-garde” or “Neo Realism”.
How much imagination and creativity do you infuse into your work, starting from the client’s input?
I’ve developed my portfolio over the years so more people are just saying “I want it in your style” and that leads to a lot of my own creativity coming through.
Can we talk about a percentage between you and the client?
The ratio itself is probably 30% client input and 70% artistic freedom. I like to design with my client in person so that they get more input and we can feed off each other’s ideas and energy. That conversation leads to some really unique places too, especially when they’re more knowledgeable about the theme than I am. Once they give me the starting point, and any add ons they might like included, I’ll find a way to make it work.
I’ll make it as chaotic as they allow, as you can see from this gallery update.
How has the evolution been from your previous studio ‘Rebel Muse Tattoo’ to your current ‘Flow State Gallery’, also in Denver (Colorado), where you work alongside colleagues like Erica, Emma, Jason and Sabrina?
It’s been incredible and such a fulfilling step in my career. My time working at and owning a location for ‘Rebel Muse Tattoo’ was valuable, but the demands of that studio were simply too high. Grinding 5-6 days a week left me with no energy artistically, and the same went for all of my artists at the time. In contrast, ‘Flow State Gallery’ (IG: @flowstategallery) has been all about finding balance. Seeing how much further I can push the art by allowing time for recovery to refill the creative well.
Everyone that works with me at ‘Flow State Gallery’ is of the same mindset, and it’s been a privilege to grow with them.
What kind of year was 2025 for you?
This year was intense. 3 trips to Europe including 2 new conventions and my first international award (for Realism) in the UK, so it’s been a lot of travel. We also expanded the studio from just being Sabrina Stabs (IG: @sabrinastabs) and myself to a full team, and outside of tattooing I trained for my first marathon this year (finished) so I’ve started to prioritize personal health too. At the time we’re making this interview, I’ve ran 860km during 2025!
What big plans do you have in store for 2026?
Looking at 2026 I’ve got a few things planned, the most daunting will likely be taking a month off to paint. I want to approach it like a spiritual journey, so 30 days of painting 8-10 hours each day along with running, yoga and meditation – all without any human contact. Disconnecting from the world to this extent with plenty of time on my hands is something I’ve dreamed of my entire career, so I’m excited to see where it takes me.
Last question – What would you say to yourself after almost 15 years in this environment as a professional tattoo artist?
“Holy s**t man. 15 years in and we’re still out here!” – that’s an accomplishment on its own. As proud as I am of how far we’ve come, I want to be even more proud of the effort I continue to put forth every day when I look back on this moment at the 20 or 30 year mark. Prioritize peace along with growth and try to find the balance in between. If you reach a path and don’t know which road to take, remember: “In order to achieve something you’ve never done, you have to go somewhere you’ve never gone.”
