Born in San Cristóbal, Venezuela, and now based in Valencia, Spain, at his Nomad Gallery Tattoo Shop, Jesus Arellano is an artist who transformed a passion nurtured through drawing and personal sacrifice into a life path entirely dedicated to tattooing. His style, which he descrives as “Fantasy Neo-Surrealism with Asian influences,” blends black & grey realism, portraiture, religious subjects, and contemporary elements into a personal and recognizable visual language, such as his Asian Women’s Faces, a theme that currently defines his professional path.
Hi Jesus, welcome on Tattoo Life. Where are you from?
Hello dear Tattoo Life family, Thank you so much for giving me this space to show my work, I really appreciate it. I was born and raised in San Cristobal, Venezuela but at the age of 20 I moved to Spain and since then I’ve been based in Valencia. This is where you can find me today, along with my studio, Nomad Gallery.
How did you start your tattooing career?
I actually started in quite an unexpected way. Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and tattooing was always something I dreamed of exploring. But for many years, my financial situation made it impossible to even try. I spent all my time drawing and painting, wherever I could, and my girlfriend at the time (who is now my wife) recognized how passionate I was.
She believed in me enough to buy me my first tattoo machine with money she had saved.
That moment changed everything. From the day I held that machine, I knew tattooing would become not only my profession, but the lifestyle I wanted to dedicate myself to.
Do you have a background in art school or graphic design?
Yes. I was fortunate to grow up with a very artistic father who shared his passion for art with me from a young age. He taught me the basics of drawing and, in many ways, he was my first real teacher. Later on, he enrolled me in an art school in my hometown, where I spent about four years studying drawing. At one point I planned to pursue formal studies in illustration, but life led me in another direction and eventually toward tattooing. Looking back, I’m grateful things unfolded the way they did, because tattooing became exactly where I was meant to be.
Your style is very close to realistic black and grey. You do portraits, religious subjects and sometimes Neo Traditional faces. How would you describe it?
Like many artists, I’ve explored a variety of styles throughout my career, and even today I still work across different approaches but I always try to guide clients toward my own creative territory. If I had to define my style, I would call it “Fantasy Neo-Surrealism with Asian influences.” My goal is to reinterpret classic tattoo styles and blend them with contemporary aesthetics, creating pieces that feel both timeless and modern at the same time.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I get inspiration from many places, but I’m especially drawn to discovering lesser-known artists. There’s something fascinating about seeing how emerging creators interpret the world and try to leave their own mark, whether they’re tattoo artists, illustrators, or oil painters.
Their fresh perspectives always spark new ideas in me.
My work is also deeply influenced by different Asian cultures, which I find endlessly inspiring. Films, architecture, traditional art, contemporary illustrations. Almost anything within those cultural worlds can ignite my creativity. And at the same time, I always keep the old classics and pioneering artists in mind, because understanding the roots is essential to knowing where everything truly comes from.
Are there any subjects you particularly love to draw and tattoo?
Yes. At the moment, Asian women’s faces are one of my favorite subjects to tattoo. Unlike more standard facial structures, I find their features are more subtle and nuanced, which makes capturing their expression and essence a greater challenge and that’s exactly what I enjoy about it. Each piece pushes me to be more precise and more sensitive in the way I interpret the face. And of course, I love adding a disruptive surrealistic twist to make the composition even more interesting and complex.
Looking ahead, what are the next steps you’d like to take?
I will let destiny decide for me, but hopefully whatever comes next will allow me to continue doing what I love which is tattooing and helping others, surrounded by good people, and sharing good moments and art around the world.
Would you like to close this interview with a final message?
I just want to thank you for the opportunity to share a bit of my story and my vision. Tattooing is my life, and being able to connect with people through my work is something I never take for granted. I hope my journey can inspire others to follow their own artistic path. I’m truly grateful to everyone who supports what I do. I hope to keep creating art that resonates with people around the world. Thank you for having me.
