Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Feliciano
Hi Avery, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
ever since I was a child I had always been artistically inclined. Neither of my parents ever pursued art heavily but they both had dabbled a bit so I think it came naturally for them to support me in that way. From primary school to college I did a lot of experimenting with mediums like drawing, oils, acrylic, screen printing, sewing, etc. It wasn’t until late high school that I bought and ordered my first tattoo machine. Very gen z of me but I was super curious about it since I had been following tattoo culture for a little while before that. I started to practice on fruits and fake skin until I had the great idea of tattooing myself. I tattooed small little bangers on myself until I had another great idea to move on to other people. After I got more comfortable, I started my scratcher journey which mostly consisted of garage and homemade tattoos. That continued until I turned 18 and got my first official tattoo from my now mentor Juan Montemayor. Most of my first tattoos from him came from trades since I was 18 and had no money haha. Although I did get lucky had got this expensive machine that my stepbrother helped me buy that Juan was looking for. So, I figured he could do the machine way more justice than I could at the time so in trade for the machine I got tattoos. During that time of getting tattooed, I had mentioned that I also make art and we ended up trading panos. soon after that, he asked me to apprentice under him and I agreed. There began what was almost two years of learning the trade and culture of Chicano fineline tattoos. I am now 22 and have been tattooing as an official tattooer for a little bit over a year and work in northside Houston with my amazing friend Pia Roque. It took a village to get me to the point I am today and I’m so grateful for my family and community that continue to support me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was most definitely not an easy ride but I did have fun along the way. while also going through my apprenticeship I was also figuring out how to be an adult since I started so young, and also figuring out my queer identity. I had lived in somewhat of a country town that didn’t recognize pronouns or queer culture like that, so I didn’t even know I had the option of choosing my pronouns until people in the city started to ask me. A big challenge was that it demanded all of my attention and time, this caused a lot of tension between me and my mom but thankfully now that has been worked through and healed. It’s understandable the worry that my mom had because her child was getting home at super late hours/ the next day, and having to do it again the next day. the tattoo scene also being male-dominated, was very hard. I was often not acknowledged/ treated the same, knowing if I was perceived as male I would get treated normally. It most definitely at times feels like a boys club. For that reason, I believe people like me and women have to work a bit harder in this community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The style of tattooing that I do would be considered Chicano Fineline black and grey. It is a style derived from a prison and jail form of tattooing, built from specific imagery and application of the tattoo. In Houston, I would consider it a bit more of a niche style of tattoo, while also going deeper into the subculture by being queer and making my designs reflect that. That is a big part of what I do, is making a space for POC and queers to be able to get Fineline by someone who represents them. I take great honor and joy to be able to tattoo people like myself and give them that sense of nostalgia and familiarity. As of recently, I’ve been taking on portraits, and It’s something that feels so special because it’s giving someone a permanent memory of their loved one. Being able to let people connect with their loved ones, and to be trusted with that job is an honor.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to working with other artists! It’s actually one of my goals for this new year to do more community and collaborative art. I am also not limited to tattooing, I also still love to produce visual arts with mixed media, sculpture, drawing or painting, or anything that has my attention at that time. the best way to support me is too buy my art! either getting tattooed or buying physical pieces, if you can’t do either of those then sharing is another great way to give support to your local artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/pimpjuice/home?authuser=0
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chinos.pimpjuice
Image Credits
Jesse Jaramillo, Nicolas Romero, jasminemengo