Tattoo artist Luis Miguel Hinestroza is perhaps the most well-known Colombian in the U.S. tattoo scene. A professional tattoo artist diversified in drawing and painting, this 35-year-old Colombian has found great success in Atlanta for the past two and a half years, after emigrating there to develop his art and expand his opportunities.
The journey of a tattoo artist, from Colombia to the US
Luis Miguel’s journey to the U.S. began in 2015 when he visited his cousin in Atlanta. “I tattooed him and his friends at home,” he recalls. Born and raised in Medellin, Luis Miguel is no stranger to the tattoo scene. He made a name for himself by tattooing some of the most prominent reggaeton artists in Medellin.
From successful Medellin studios, Luis Miguel decided to try his luck in the U.S. “In Colombia, I was very happy, but in the maturity I have reached, both artistically and personally, I think it’s more interesting to be in the U.S.”
Today, Luis Miguel works at Ink & Dagger, one of the best tattoo shops in Atlanta, with a fully booked schedule. His life in the U.S. is different. “Compared to Medellin, Atlanta is an immense city with very spread-out parts,” he remarks. “Here, I stick to the area where I live and work. In Colombia, it was very different. I worked in many shops in Laureles, Poblado, and Sabaneta. It was cool to share with my friends,” he confesses. “Here, the process is more individual.”
Origins and influences
Luis Miguel is not only a tattoo artist. He has a strong interest and knowledge in other plastic arts. Watercolor, acrylic, oil, glass, and lettering (mimilla de oro) are techniques he studies beyond tattooing. “I see them as something I want to achieve,” he says. “I have periods when I only draw or only do acrylics.”
Luis Miguel’s venture into the tattoo universe and the arts goes back a long way. “I discovered this culture as a kid through my uncles, who were artists,” he recalls. “My parents didn’t let me go out to parties. I grew up solely in the family environment. When I went to my cousins’ house, they had tattoo reviews, comics, and illustration magazines. This fascinated me.”
As a 10-year-old, Luis Miguel started building his own inspiration and vision of tattooing. He recalls his main influences. “The first was a Frenchman, Jean Giraud, alias Moebius, who worked on ‘bandes dessinées’ (comic strips) and science fiction,” he says. Along with this artistic influence, a more academic one also shaped his vision. “The other was an American, Andrew Loomis. From his works, I learned about the human figure and facial structure,” he says.
‘They welcomed me very well’
Americans recognized his talent as a tattoo artist and as a human being. “They called me for my unique line, my ability to talk to people, and being a good person,” he says. Despite arriving with only basic English, Luis Miguel received a warm welcome. “They welcomed me very well,” he says.
The U.S. tattoo market offers more opportunities due to its size and available knowledge. In Colombia, it is harder to access information on tattoos. “When foreign tattoo artists come, you can see the gap. Whether they come from the U.S., Asia, or Europe, they have all the information at their feet,” he says. “So I wonder, why don’t Colombians have it? We are very talented in music, art, and film,” he rhetorically asks. For Luis Miguel, this is due to a very specific issue. “More than talent, it’s that we are “cheap” among ourselves. Colombians are always more attentive to foreigners. We are not well paid, despite being talented.”
The daily challenges of a Colombian
Luis Miguel’s adaptation to the U.S. has had its challenges. Like every Colombian emigrant, he misses his land, his food, and his people. Loneliness has been a struggle. He misses the warmth of the people. “Damn, I miss it a lot,” he confesses emotionally. “It’s harder to connect here. People are more closed,” he laments. “In Colombia, we are very warm. It’s easy to become friends and help people. Here, people are more materialistic.”
However, he recognizes that this lack of warmth also has a positive side. “There is another culture here, people are more open-minded, they are very respectful,” he says. “There is a lot of freedom. Nobody judges you, they won’t talk about you,” he observes, adding that “There is always a way forward if you want it.”
Luis Miguel remains very happy about his time in the U.S. and highly motivated. “What drives me is being Colombian and being from Medellin,” he says. “It’s a very interesting experience. I am very happy. I want to stay.” Beyond learning ways to improve his art and grow as a tattoo artist, Luis Miguel also sees his journey as an opportunity. “In 20 years, I can return to Colombia and have the house of my dreams, something that is often a luxury in Colombia,” he says. Meanwhile, Luis Miguel will keep sharing his art with Americans and showcasing the best Colombia has to offer the world.
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