Here we are between San Diego and Los Angeles, in Lake Forest, at the heart of Southern California, visiting Franco Vescovi’s renowned studio, Vatican Studios. From the outside, the building appears to be a simple white box, but once inside, you’re immediately struck by the contrast and Renaissance richness of its interior. Join us as we step inside to admire the studio and meet him its creator.
“We’re right in the middle between San Diego and Los Angeles, about 45 minutes either way. We’re also right near Disneyland, so you could say we’re in the heart of Southern California. We’re also easy to get to, right off the freeway, and this spot gave me the freedom to build my own vision without any business partners. In my Hollywood location however, I am fortunate to be business partners with Freddy Negrete, my lifelong mentor.
Franco Vescovi is the owner and founder and as he uses to say, being half Italian and half Hispanic, his Italian side has always been a big part of his identity. His style is known to be a blend of Italian Renaissance and Chicano style, baroque, and statue-like imagery, with strong religious undertones.
“That inspiration is reflected in my studio. You’ll see touches of Italian architecture, Venetian plaster walls, crown molding painted in gold, and even large canvas reproductions of art that I photographed of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, blown up and placed on my ceiling. It’s my sort of nod to Italy and to the Vatican itself. From the outside, the building is just a plain white box, but once people step inside, they’re blown away by the contrast of the two, and that’s exactly why I named it Vatican Studios”.
Just as the Vatican in Italy holds masterpieces from the greatest artists of its time, our Vatican studios has become home to some of the best tattoo artists and artwork of today.
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