She works at ‘El Cisne Negro Tattoo’ in Madrid but continues to draw inspiration from both nature and the skill of her colleagues. Because in the world of tattoo art, you never stop learning.
María, what made you decide to become a tattoo artist, and when did you say, “Okay, I’ve made it, now I’m part of the tattoo world”?
I’ve been connected to the world of art since I was very young, and all my studies have been artistic in nature. Tattooing, as a form of body expression, always fascinated me, even though it once felt somewhat out of reach. At 18, I found the courage to learn and experience it for myself – and that’s how my journey began.
Eighteen years later, after many ups and downs, dedication and perseverance have allowed me to become one of the leading figures in the tattoo world in my country. I truly felt part of the industry when respected personalities in my country began recognizing and praising both my designs and my technique.
Does NeoTraditional “Nouveau” mean that your works take elements from the worlds of NeoTrad and Art Nouveau equally and blend them together?
Yes, absolutely. NeoTraditional “Nouveau” blends the composition, technique, colours, and body placement of NeoTraditional tattooing with decorative elements from Art Nouveau. This includes organic shapes, floral styles, colour palettes, and even the way female faces are portrayed – all inspired by Art Nouveau. That’s where the term “Neo-traditional Nouveau” comes from.
Is the red hair of many of your female subjects a tribute to early twentieth-century art or a way to give even more impact to your work on skin?
Well, I started tattooing red-haired women because the palette I use is very autumnal. I really love the colors of nature, especially in autumn, with red, orange, yellow, mustard, brown, and olive green leaves.
These are colours that nature gives us, and just by taking a look or a photo, you can have a spectacular colour palette that blends perfectly.
So I thought it would be more striking to make my women red-haired, since the rest of the decoration would probably be yellow, green, and in those tones, giving a punch to the face, which is the main focus of a NeoTraditional piece.
You’re red-haired anyway…
Yes. In the end, I became a redhead because of my art. I needed to be a redhead. I’m not naturally, by the way! (laughs)
I have seen one of your works and… how did you come up with the idea of dressing E.T. that way? Was it your idea, or did a client come in with the idea already in mind?
That E.T. piece was actually very well received, but no – unfortunately, it wasn’t my idea. The client requested it. He’s been a client of mine for many years, loves the Eighties, and is getting his arms covered with pieces from his favorite movies, video games, and series from that decade.
And why go for a regular E.T. that other people might have when you can have the E.T. in costume, just like in the movie? I simply took the frame from the film and translated it into a tattoo. It’s not one of the flashiest tattoos – it’s not a full back or a full leg – but it might be one of the most fun tattoos I’ve ever done. Come on, you can’t deny it’s super fun!
If you had to name something that continues to amaze and inspire you even today, after all these years in this profession…?
One thing that continues to fascinate me about this world is that, even after 18 years of tattooing, you never stop learning. You’re always growing. You can have a very refined technique, fully adapted to your own way of working, and yet you’ll always meet colleagues – whether in the studio or while traveling nationally or internationally – who blow your mind with how they do things.
You think, “Wow, I’m going to try it their way.”
Suddenly, you discover a technique or approach that makes your work easier, or looks much better, or just opens up new possibilities.
Where do you plan to spend most of 2026 — based in Madrid, or traveling between guest spots and tattoo conventions? Can you tell us about your next moves?
I’m a resident tattoo artist in Madrid, at a studio called ‘El Cisne Negro Tattoo’ (IG: @elcisnenegrotattoo), where I spend most of my time. But this year, I’d like to do a lot of tattoo conventions. We started with the ‘Mondial du Tatouage’ in Paris (IG: @mondialdutatouage), and hopefully the next one will be ‘Gods of Ink’ (IG: @godsofinktattooconvention), along with a few more to come.
I’m planning to attend two or three more conventions throughout the year, which I’d like to organize with my friends and fellow tattoo artists, so we can share the experience together. In addition to conventions, I’ll also be doing some guest spots both nationally and internationally, in places like London, Berlin, and Belgium. So yes, I’ll be traveling quite a bit, though I’ll always be based in Madrid.
And your last famous words are… ?
Always ink boldly, live fully, and leave a mark no one can forget. (smiles)
