Little Rock tattoo artist Didi Vasquez builds community with their highly stylized tattoos.

Vasquez (any/all pronouns) is a 21 year old tattoo artist working in Bebee, Arkansas. They’re currently an apprentice at Dolly Dagger Tattoo.

Inspired by their brother’s tattooing, Vasquez followed in his footsteps. 

After graduating high school, Vasquez knew they wanted to do something besides college.

“I did sign up, and I got accepted, but I didn’t want to do it. That’s when he started tattooing and I was like ‘I could do that.’”

Vasquez’s brother runs a tattoo studio with his wife.

Compared to other art forms, Vasquez is most drawn to tattooing. 

“It’s definitely an intimate form of work. I feel like I’m giving a piece of myself to every person I tattoo. I take effort into making my tattoo with my style,” They said

Vasquez describes their style as a “stick-and-poke hybrid.” Like traditional tattooing, a machine is used, but it’s entirely composed of tiny dots that vary in size and shade.

Vasquez notes that their style has a lot of versatility. “I love that my style can be both used as, like a soft, cottage core kind of feel, or cybersigilism… I like that I can be on both sides, because I feel like that’s how I am as a person,” they said.

Vasquez is a multi-disclined artist. Besides tattooing, they run their own booths at art markets in Little Rock.

They sell drawings, prints and hand-made key chains.

 “I do a lot at Lost and Found, Pocket Park and The Bernice Garden,” they said.

Vasquez has been involved in art markets since August.

Despite moving to Little Rock two years ago, they’ve established themselves as a talented artist who is part of a thriving art community.

When Vasquez first moved to Little Rock, they didn’t know anyone. 

“It was hard to find friends, but everybody was nice,” they said. “I kind of just slowly incorporated myself with what was going on here.”

Vasquez credits their friends with getting them into art markets.

“That brought me into the joy of enjoying other people’s creations… seeing everybody get together was something I’ve never been used to,” they said.

Vasquez grew up in Hope, Arkansas. Compared to Little Rock, Vasquez says it doesn’t have the same community. “It’s very closed off,” they said. 

Asked what’s next for them, Vasquez reiterates their love for tattooing. 

“I definitely want to tattoo, always, since I’ve moved here… I finally got it so I’m going to stick with it until I get tired of it or my arm breaks,” they said.

Vasquez’s apprenticeship ends this month. To get licensed, they’ll spend the next two years tattooing at Dolly Dagger. 

Afterwards they want to return to their hometown to care for their family.

“I’m very family oriented… My sister is still really little and my parents are getting older. I just want to be there,” they said.

Living in Little Rock, Vasquez has found their voice as an artist.

“I feel more secure with who I am as a person and what I stand for,” Vasquez sa

More information about Vasquez’s work can e on Instagram @cat_piiss.