Soy Artista: Celebrating Chicanx culture through tattoos

By Guillermo Noe Salazar and Ben Hernandez

Since she was five years old, Alexa Moreno knew she wanted to become a tattoo artist.

“I used to do this thing where I would buy temporary tattoos at the store for some quarters and I would smack them on my arm and I wouldn’t wash my arms for weeks,” Moreno said. “I used to draw on myself, my arms and my classmates as well.”

Moreno’s art is an expression meant to connect with the Latine, Chicanx and queer community. She specializes in black and grey fine line tattoos. 

“I grew up watching LA Ink, Miami Ink,” Moreno said. “I guess seeing it on television was very helpful and culturally just growing up in L.A. and growing up with fellow Chicanos and seeing Chicano tattoos and art.”

Originally, Moreno moved to Humboldt in 2023 so her partner could finish college at Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH). Moving to Humboldt made Moreno nervous because she didn’t know the area and was worried about finding a community. However, she was able to find community through folklórico, Danza Azteca performances and events hosted by Centro del Pueblo. 

She was able to adjust even more when she started working at Sangha Tattoo Studio in Eureka and met Jackie Silva, a co-owner and body piercer. She felt Silva really understood where she was coming from. 

“You know, we’re both Chicanas from So Cal and we’re both very passionate about our heritage and our culture and she incorporates that a lot in her work,” Silva said.

Silva also shared that Moreno and her bonded over their shared love of the culture. 

“It just feels really great to just have someone to kind of soundboard off of and just talk to and just kind of banter with,” Silva said. “We get the same inside jokes and all that.”

Even though Moreno expressed a love for tattooing early on, she didn’t always have her parents’ approval of her career choice. Her father originally thought that tattoos were for “gangbangers” and her mother didn’t think it was a professional career, but she received support from friends and teachers. As she progressed as a tattoo artist, her parents started to see her skill and passion and that even as an artist she could make a living and express herself.

“I guess my parents wanted me to pursue college and an education, which I think for a lot of immigrant parents, pursuing the arts or even anything self employed is unheard of or scary,” Moreno said.

Working in the tattoo industry before coming to Humboldt

Moreno began her tattoo apprenticeship in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of eight months, she learned how to tattoo using a traditional coil machine at a shop in Inglewood. 

However, during the beginning of her apprenticeship she had to deal with other artists drinking, drug use and even harassment. After being in that toxic environment she couldn’t even get her tattoo license. She ultimately left to continue her apprenticeship at another tattoo shop with a new mentor. 

Moreno was able to find an apprenticeship at an all femme tattoo shop in San Pedro, California called Black Sheep, where she got to work alongside other Chicanas. With a new safe and supporting environment, she was able to get her tattoo licence in 2020. 

Her art and inspirations

As for Morenos inspirations, “It started with incarcerated brown folks,” Moreno said. 

She focuses on themes relating to Mesoamerican culture, indigeneity, Chicanx street art, brown empowerment and Chola(o) street wear. As Moreno grew up Chicana in a Mexican household, she learned about her roots and the different tribes within Mexico. 

Some examples of her work use Mexican symbols, Mesoamerican gods like Kukulkan, plants used in Mexican culture such as agave and nopales, Danza Azteca and folklórico. 

Cal Poly Humboldt student Ernesto Saldaña, received matching tattoos with his best friend from Moreno.

“We chose Alexa because we saw her art style matched what we wanted and that she’s hispanic, so we knew she would stay true to the culture and the tattoos came out perfect,” Saldaña said. 

Since coming to Humboldt, Moreno’s ambition has only grown stronger as she is passionate about the history of tattooing, art in Mesoamerican culture and is currently studying at College of the Redwoods to become an art teacher. Moreno aspires to create murals around Humboldt, especially in Eureka.

You can find Moreno on Instagram @labrujatatuu or at Sangha Tattoo Studio in Eureka.