PAETYN RECTOR

How Laccuna’s all women studio is changing the game in the male-dominated tattoo industry

all photo credit to Kelsey Kerr**

Nestled away in a quaint alcove of the Chiado neighborhood of Lisbon lies a space of the most extraordinary feminine energy, significantly divine creativity, and the kindest hearts in the city’s creative community. The women of Laccuna Tattoo Studio are not only professionals in their field but creators of a safe space for every person who crosses the threshold of their door.

Marta Palmito is one of the many incredible artists at Laccuna, who for the past 28 years has indulged herself in the wide world of creation. She’s been tattooing for six years and was one of the first to join the current studio, where she’s worked for three years now. Laccuna is woman-owned and operated to provide a safe, relaxing, and peaceful atmosphere in a male-dominated industry.

“That was actually really important to me when I came to this studio,” she notes. “The tattoo industry, I feel like [is] a little [more] male-dominated, and so we wanted to kind of go a little bit against that, and give a bit more human to women, more opportunities to have their space and feel safe.

The studio is decorated, too, in such a way that is beyond inviting. The minimalistic ornamentation throughout the establishment is calming while also offering a visual interest to keep clients occupied during their session.

Palmito speaks on the transitions she’s noticed in her own work. Her ink has evolved from heavy shading techniques to a specialization in fine line and minimal work that appears softer on the skin. Her work is characterized by personalized flashes that she creates for clients.

“I feel like all of my flashes define me,” she explains. “I like to put my own style on the drawings I do, and on the custom work that people ask me as well.”

Flashes are a meaningful way for artists to put their own twist and personality into their work. While flipping through her flash book, she points out some of her favorite work such as ornamental pieces, animals, florals, Lisbon souvenirs, and dainty pieces that anyone can waltz out of the studio absolutely adoring.

Every artist begins with a story. In the same way that every career takes action, a stone must be placed. Palmito highlighted Frida Kahlo, a world-famous Mexican painter, as one of her biggest inspirations. Kahlo faced a plethora of health challenges growing up and was then in a tragic bus collision at age 18. This is where Kahlo’s career as a painter began.

“But in the beginning, I really looked up [to] her for all the struggles she faced, and I think you can correlate that a lot with us right now with being a woman-based studio,” Palmito says in regard to Kahlo. “It’s very hard. [It] was very hard for her as well. Like in the beginning of her career, with being a woman against all the men that were around her and she could overcome that. I feel like she’s really inspiring in a lot of ways, and I always loved her work as well.”

Frida Kahlo’s work is displayed today in the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City and inNew York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Like so many artists, Palmito views her mistakes and anxieties as tools for improvementrather than setbacks, noting that perfectionism drives her towards her desired results each day.

“I TEND TO THINK A LOT MORE ABOUT THE BAD [MOMENTS] FIRST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE BAD [MOMENTS] WERE WHAT MADE ME WHERE I AM TODAY. I FEEL LIKE [IT’S NOT] THAT BIG OF A DEAL, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE BAD ONES MADE ME GROW AND MADE ME LEARN A LOT MORE.”

Tattooing has long remained a heavily male-dominated industry. However, every daythat gap narrows as a vibrant wave of women and queer people redefinethe field. Tattoos continue to serve as their own form of feminism, allowing women to reclaim their own bodily autonomy and reject patriarchal ideologies regarding freedom and feminine originality. There is still vital work that is to be done regarding liberation among women in male-centric professions, but we are getting there more and more every day. Providing people with the spaces to freely be themselves, practice what they adore, and be together without the fear of judgment andperception through a critic’s eye is so important in today’s world and Laccuna is a perfect example of that space.