OUR
TEAM
Art + Body Creative Studio offers quality art and design services including custom professional body artistry.
Our artists have diverse professional training and offer a range of art creative specialties. They create art for sale, commissioned art, interior and exterior large projects as well as consultant services.
Our experienced artists offer tattoo specialties in traditional, ta moko, handtap and handpoke, colour, black and grey tattoo, neo-traditional, realism, traditional and sacred geometry.
JULES
RESIDENT ARTIST
Tā Moko Practitioner, Cultural Artist, Writer, Painter
Tattoo Styles: Tā Moko, Ta Tatau, Fineline, Custom Māori, Body Suits, Ornamental, Mauri Moko
“Moko to me is a process of connecting each of us through its practice, to the ancient wisdom of our ancestors, so that their mana and mauri may become centred within our personal spiritual self” - Julie Paama-Pengelly
Julie (Jules) has 30 years experience with ta moko and has been active as an artist for 40 years. Her post-graduate qualifications in third world development and maori visual arts uniquely positions her understanding of maori art as a cultural practice with the ability to heal trauma.
Jules has firm foundations within customary (traditional) maori techniques and design but as a progressive multimedia artist, is always challenging the development of ta moko.
Explore More:
LUCAS
RESIDENT ARTIST
Designer, Illustrator, Tattoo Artist
Tattoo Styles: Aquarell, New School, Blackwork
"Its nature...I draw and I've worked with art since I was a kid. So, it's kind of natural...something I wanted to do all my life..." - Lucas Vargas
Lucas Vargas grew up in southern Brazil, and graduated in design at the Superior School of Publicity and Marketing (Brazil) in 2013. Lucas worked with art direction for six years and, in 2017, started his studies in tattoo art.
His tattoo style contemplates application of colors, blackwork and fineline.
GABRIEL
RESIDENT ARTIST
Tattoo Artist, Graphic Designer
Styles: Fineline, Black & Gray, Line Work, Dot Work, Geometric
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Sumba Man (Gabriel Nobre) is a visual artist and tattooist from Brazil, based in New Zealand. Most of his work is influenced by sculptures and geometric patterns, mixed with organic objects and minimal arrangements, mainly using black ink.
SETH
RESIDENT ARTIST
Tattoo Artist
Styles: Batok, Japanese Oriental, Dotwork, American Traditional, Realism, Pop Art
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Seth has over twenty years of experience in the tattoo industry, mastering the art of custom tattoo. He specialises in Japanese oriental, dot work, american traditional, realism and pop art.
KAIWHETU
EMERGING TATTOOIST
Emerging Artist
Artist Styles: Blackwork, Dotwork, Sketchwork, Tā Moko
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Kaiwhetu is our newest tattooist, bringing a fresh perspective and energy to Art + Body. She has a background in carving and visual arts, she has some great ideas across a range of styles.
From bold blackwork to fine dotwork, send through your ideas for Kaiwhetu to turn into your next favorite tattoo!
AMARIA
STUDIO MANAGER
Studio Manager
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As a visual artist she has an immense passion for everything related to pop culture. Her practice primarily involves investigating contemporary commercial art. She continuously seeks to enhance her illustrative style by experimenting with a diverse range of techniques and mediums.
STORMY
GUEST ARTIST
Tattoo Artist, Designer, Illustrator
Tattoo Styles: Ta Moko, Ta Tatau
“I’ve had my whole life where I’ve been able to live off my creativity. But now, it’s more to do with understanding the bigger picture, which is the restoration process...It’s essentially a lifetime devotion to that.” - Stormy Kara
Stormy Kara is from the Cook Islands and is based out of Pacific Ink's Kareha Art Studio in Tumutevarovaro (or more commonly known as Rarotonga). Stormy is an internationally travelling artist in the revitalization of Pacific Ta Tatau, educating those around her about ta tatau, ta moko and history of the Cook Islands.