Book a session with Ignacio “Cacho” Suarez and you will witness something rare. He is a tattoo artist without a tattoo, but not because he is not interested. The Los Angeles tattoo artist is still at a critical time in deliberation, deciding exactly what he gets into what he’s looking for and what artists are the most appealing.
“When I first started chasing tattoos, I came across a lot of gatekeeping in the industry. Some shopkeepers said I wouldn’t be respected or successful without a tattoo. “Instead of following that outdated mindset, I took it as a challenge to prove that its skill, dedication and artistry is more important than putting it in the mold.”
He understands the journey his client took to land in his chair. “Tattoos are an exchange of energy,” says Cacho. “When someone is sitting in my chair, they trust me with something meaningful.
Cacho gives his name by specializing in single needle tattoos rather than traditional tattoos that rely on multiple needles. The challenge of this style of tattooing is the delicate nature of creating vibrant artwork without harm. Apply enough pressure to allow the ink to penetrate the skin without damaging the client.
As he began playing with fine line tattoos, Kacho realized that he could bring “precision and depth” to his tattoo. “I’ve always been drawn to the smallest details,” he says. “I love the challenge. The idea of being able to create something incredibly detailed in such a small space — something that looks almost surreal in its accuracy — keeps pushing my limits.”
Despite my dedication and passion for tattoos, becoming a tattoo artist was not always a plan. Initially he came to LA to become a muralist. In fact, in Mexico City, where Cacho grew up, he painted and dabbled murals in a variety of art forms, including teaching young artists at graphic design, editorial illustration, animation and fashion design colleges.
“Art has always been my obsession and my way of seeing and understanding the world,” he says. This obsession began at a young age. When he was about five years old, his father realized that he had encouraged it by drawing and taking the young Cacho to his studio. His father gave him charcoal and let him create it. That moment solidified Cacho’s artistic journey, and although his path was not always linear, he says in the process that each work can “explor the various forms of storytelling through art,” allowing him to shape him into the artists of today. “My goal has always been to build something bigger than a tattoo and create pieces that will leave with lasting impact,” he says. “Creativity isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am.”
When he is not tattooed, Cacho still draws, explains and collaborates with fashion and jewelry brands. He is working on writing children’s books in Spanish and translating them into English. “I’m always pushing myself creatively,” he says.
As for tattoos, this drive takes the form of exploring ways to extend fineline pieces such as sleeves and backpieces into larger pieces. The challenge for large-scale work is to maintain the same complex level of detail, but that is a challenge Suarez welcomes.
He believes tattoos are “time capsules of our lives,” and the people sitting in his chair want to capture moments, memories, emotions, or experiences that can be visibly carried.
For client-celebrity married couple Katie Sakhoff and Robin Gasby, their bodies are canvas and slowly filled with art that captures what their daughter is interested in that year, whether it’s an airplane or her favorite book. “My favorite thing about this project is to expect them to be waiting to see what they bring next, and hear the stories behind her daughter’s latest obsession and know that in a few years these works will become a map of her childhood,” says Suarez.
Cacho has frequently kept celebrities in her chair, including Tifani Tiessen, Candice Cameron Bre and Stephen “Convulsions” bosses, Teddy Mellencamp, Kyle Richards, Kaylee Cuoco, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sharna Burgess, Daniel Rodriguez, Daniela Monetto and Yoela Dellen.
Regardless of his celebrity status, Suarez treats all his clients the same way. Spread kindness throughout each session with a strong commitment to becoming the best fine artist he can. “Art is my way of understanding my language, my passion and the world,” he says. “There’s still so much I want to make and I want people to join in on the journey.”
