Today we’d like to introduce you to Letícia Bomtempo.
Hi Letícia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Brazil in 1988, a natural artist. I copied drawings to perfection ever since I was gifted my first pencils and crayons. My dad taught me how to play flute and keyboard before I knew math, the alphabet, or went to school. Around the age of eight, I started selling commissioned illustrations, portraits, murals, designs, and minor sculpting works. I was first invited to perform violin at the age of eleven and became a professional musician at the age of thirteen. I traveled all over Brazil playing violin and flute in gigs and celebrations such as the anniversary of the Big Christ in Rio de Janeiro, CD and DVD recordings. I was also honored to be part of a Youth Orchestra in my home state of Minas Gerais and performed live in a Verdi Opera called La Traviata. I moved across the country and lived independently as a musician at eighteen. In search of a traditional and secure career, I went to law school and received a partial scholarship for being a musician in the University Chamber Orchestra. During this period, I traveled intensely, doing all sorts of music gigs. Although I love Brazil with all my heart, I grew tired of the difficulties that a violent country with a conservative and religious culture imposed on me.
Being in America would be a more fertile ground where people would better appreciate a free spirit like me. So I sold my belongings and business in Brazil, kissed goodbye to my family, and wished farewell to my friends. I packed a small suitcase and restarted from zero in the United States at the end of 2016. Queen Tattoo Co. was envisioned in 2015 when I was preparing to leave Brazil. The inspiration for the name came from the band “Queen,” and I liked that it is a noble, empowering, & feminine word. The shop is about to reach its fourth anniversary, and we now have an entire team of tattoo artists, piercers & permanent makeup artists.
Our team grew naturally, and we came together like a little family; now, there are almost ten of us. We are all hard workers and full-time artists. My wife helps me with ownership and management so that our shop runs smoothly. We have won several tattoo awards, have been in many publications, and work with top brands. Queen Tattoo has built a reputation for being a safe, warm, and inviting shop in Jacksonville Beach, providing quality services to Northeast Florida.
In the last few years, I have received recognition in the industry, working with the big names. I travel often through the United States, Europe, and Brazil, participating in Tattoo Shows, winning awards, and representing brands. At least once a year, I get to work at Squid Ink on Richard Branson’s gorgeous luxury cruise line, Virgin Voyages, and I take my wife with me. During these trips, I work double journey as an artist and influencer promoting our sponsors and the cruise line. It is an extravagant time because my wife and I gorge on gourmet restaurants, meet exciting people, and visit the most beautiful ports worldwide. Good things keep on happening. In 2022, I invented and designed a fantastic product that will be on the market soon. The patent is pending, so this is my little secret. 😉 I set goals for myself and move my sails with the wind.
Would it have been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
It has never been easy, but I have gotten through all of it artfully. I was very young when I started working. Back then, people saw me as a gifted child. As I grew older and exposed my wish to pursue a musical career, my family worried I would become a starving artist. Countless times, I got harassed by other musicians, patrons, and anyone who thought that I was prey. I never allowed myself to be used or put in a lesser place than I deserved. Thankfully, venues hired me because of my raw talent, not my physical attributes.
I fought the fear of not making a decent living from my youth through my twenties. Fear of the unknown kept me from diving head-down into art for years and encouraged me to pursue a traditional career. As a young adult, I felt immense pressure to succeed and realized that my social circle was not impressed by a musician, so I went to Law School. Halfway through college, following my mom’s suggestion, I took a year break and started a tattoo apprenticeship. I quickly began work as a tattoo artist and piercer and decided it was time to get back in school to finish earning my degree. I juggled working full-time as an artist and opened my first Tattoo Studio while earning a law degree. Before graduating, I had already decided to move to the United States.
My peers and teachers from college were confused by my art and law life. I was discouraged from pursuing this path and received disparaging comments from my instructors when I mentioned my plans to move to the United States and pursue art after graduating. I even had college teachers sexually harass me. I worried about my safety in Brazil; between being an LGBTQ female tattoo artist and having clientele ranging from drug dealers to law enforcement, it didn’t feel safe. Tattoo clients tell us about their lives when they’re under the needle, and I knew too much.
Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world against the queer community, but I could never hide who I am. Even my classmates, who were also primarily queer people, avoided me in public for fear of being identified. LGBTQ people face a lot of discrimination in my home country, which makes it very difficult to succeed professionally, so many people stay in the closet.
Tattoos are less acceptable in Brazil, so I faced prejudice for that as well. Although I never got in trouble, I was often pulled out in random traffic stops because I was a young, tattooed woman riding an expensive motorcycle. Then, police officers would drill me about the source of my income and would submit me to background checks.
I moved to the United States alone, bringing only $300 in my wallet and a small suitcase. I wanted to maintain the reserves I had worked hard to build in Brazil. With the $300, I bought a starter tattoo kit and a cheap cellphone. Then, the quest for a job in the United States began. I could not speak or write English; I had a basic vocabulary. Because of that, many Tattoo Parlors refused to give me a chance. But I persisted in finding a good shop where I wanted to work, Peacock’s Tattoo, in Jacksonville, FL. I asked for an opportunity and told the manager that I could learn the language and that they could let me go anytime if it didn’t work. They took me in. I worked hard at that shop, learned English, built good relationships, and overcame difficulties. My bosses were very supportive, and we are still friends. My goal had always been to reopen my business here in the USA. So I prepared myself, and after a few years at Peacock’s, I was ready to restart my shop.
The beginning was tough. I left all of my references and support back home. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I got sick, I had no health insurance, and I would take my paychecks every week only to cover basic expenses, doctor visits, and government and attorney fees. I did not allow myself to become an illegal immigrant, as I knew that this was not a reality I wanted to live in. So, I hired legal assistance and applied for asylum based on homophobia right upon my arrival. With that, I had the right to work and stay in the US until immigration could decide my case. I was sick and unstable, but I worked every day for over eight months, endless hours. I had to overcome or leave. I receive diminishing comments from Americans about Brazil, the same from other immigrants for pursuing my goals and growing. It didn’t get to me; despite the problems, I am proud of being Brazilian and will soon be a US citizen.
After living in the United States for a year, I met Jamie, who became my wife. She was the sweetest, most polite, and touching person. Neither her family nor herself ever questioned my worth or intentions. Jamie heard and supported me all the way; this strengthened me, as I am a family person and longed to rebuild my home. She asked me to marry her and gifted me a Green Card. With that, my asylum request was no longer necessary, and I was granted the right to stay permanently.
At the beginning of 2020, after four years of hard work to rebuild in the USA, I was ready to reopen my shop, this time here, in Jacksonville. I started looking for business locations. There were several refusals from landlords due to prejudice against tattoo parlors, but I found a great place in a popular part of town, on 3rd Street in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Right after signing the leasing agreement, Covid lockdowns forced all tattoo artists in the area to be out of work for months. The pandemic brought uncertainty and challenges, but with perseverance and encouragement from my wife, I used the three months of isolation to build the shop, a lot with my own hands. At that time, I spent three or four days a week doing work I had never done before: building walls, wood frames, plaster, painting, signing, floors, fixtures, and rails while my wife was working in the Covid ICU. On the remaining days of the week, I would drive to South Carolina, where businesses could still operate. I worked at Dark Tide Tattoos to keep money flowing. It was an unpredictable time for our family.
In a happy coincidence, the shop was finally ready and licensed to operate in September 2020, right after the government lifted Covid lockdown restrictions from businesses in Jacksonville. In the beginning, it was only me and an apprentice. It took a couple of months until we started to welcome new artists onto our team. Every day is an adventure. Being a full-time business owner and artist is very demanding. I have grown with the shop and become more patient and thoughtful of my decisions as they impact me and my entire team. Even though we have been open for only over three years, we have already been voted the best shop in town for the past two years. I do not regret the turns I took along the way; it built me. Art took me all the way here. I never stopped. Art not only provides to me, it makes sense of my world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a dynamic artist specializing in surrealistic, abstract, and realistic tattoos. I like to work with colors as they awaken our senses. I design large tattoos that move with the body’s anatomy. I only do work that elevates the clients’ appearance and compliments their bodies. I have traveled across Brazil, North America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe, gathering knowledge, experience, and networking with big names in music, visual arts, theatre, and business. I enjoy creating art, and it is an honor to work on projects that are in my style and interest me, as that is my voice. I am incredibly grateful for all my clients who make it possible for me to pursue my art this way. Tattoos should be unique, so each of my designs is meant to be tattooed only once. I stay away from trends; I like atemporal art. I have endorsements from the biggest brands in the industry, such as World Famous Ink, Hustle Butter, Mixing Sticks, ÜberDerm, Black Work Supply, Peak Needles, CosmoGlow, and The Tattoo Industry. I’ve been published and have received many awards. I have succeeded in business and started from nothing more than twice. My clients have followed me and appreciated my work since the first years of my career. I’m a reliable professional who only works with the best equipment. My shop is spotless and offers a private and relaxing environment. I have very high standards and never deliver less than my best.
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
Producing unique and quality work is what matters to me. I have high standards and consider the final product the most important when I do art. For that, I make decisions based on my art knowledge. Millions of artists worldwide can reproduce pictures online, but only a tiny part can create an original and substantial piece. For that reason, I put my abilities in service of clients that give me the freedom to deliver my full potential. They walk away with head-turning pieces that make them proud for the rest of their lives. I like to have a shop where the tattooing spirit is still alive. I want every single tattoo that leaves the shop to be excellent. The people who work with me are my most significant asset, and I strive to create an environment where they can build their careers and be respected. I want to be better, and I want to surround myself with good people and things. I live and breathe art. I will do it till the last day of my life.
Pricing:
- Tattoos – $300/h
- Piercings – Start at $70
Contact Info:
- Website: https://queentattooco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queentattooco/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queentattooco
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@queentattooco
Image Credits
Seth Langer https://karmathartic.com
