We were lucky to catch up with Antonella Durantine recently and have shared our conversation below.

Antonella , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I’ve always been drawn to the arts and the subjectivity that defines them. There’s incredible diversity in the art world, and every form of talent has its place. From iconic Renaissance painters like Michelangelo to contemporary visionaries like Yayoi Kusama, art continues to evolve and push boundaries. What I love most is how thought-provoking it can be—offering enthusiasts the chance to experience a piece through their own lens, while still connecting with the artist’s perspective. Some works are more direct in meaning, but there’s always a space for interpretation, and that’s where the magic often happens. A single piece can resonate with people in vastly different, personal ways.

When my husband and I opened Trilogy, our goal was to embrace and highlight these individualistic forms of art that are becoming increasingly prominent in the tattoo world. Tattoo techniques continue to grow and evolve as technology advances and new artists enter the scene. At our studio, we’ve built a team of artists who work in a wide range of styles and approaches. More than just offering talent, we’re committed to creating a space that feels inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring for every client who walks through our doors.

Antonella , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I initially went to school for design and minored in fine art. After spending over a decade working in the visual field, I found myself craving more freedom—freedom to do what I truly loved and to spend more meaningful time with my family. Making the decision to leave my career and open a studio was a huge financial risk for us, but we had a clear vision and believed wholeheartedly in the concept we wanted to bring to life.

Through this journey, Trilogy has evolved into something even more powerful than I could have imagined. It’s become a truly special space, where tattoo artists from around the world come together to deliver exceptional work. What I’m most proud of, though, is that we never compromised on our values or the identity of our brand. There were moments when certain partnerships could have helped us financially, but they didn’t align with who we were or what we stood for—and we chose to stay true to our mission.

I believe that commitment to our vision and values has been a major part of our success. It’s what keeps our community strong, our work meaningful, and our space truly unique.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest challenges we faced early on was acquiring talent. When we first opened, we had a skeleton crew—just one full-time artist and one part-time artist—simply to get the doors open. As we started taking on clients, we began noticing issues with the caliber of work being produced. We did our best to give constructive feedback and course-correct, but unfortunately, the artists weren’t receptive. Eventually, we had to part ways.

That decision put us at risk of having to temporarily close the studio. I remember thinking: “I would rather close the doors than have bad tattoos coming out of this space.” In this industry—where your work permanently alters someone’s body—there’s a responsibility to operate with the highest level of ethics and care. If clients are trusting your brand to deliver meaningful, quality artwork, then your team has to have the skill set to back that up.

Every artist starts somewhere, but what truly matters is having a growth mindset—a willingness to continue learning, evolving, and improving. That’s the type of energy we’ve worked hard to cultivate at Trilogy, and it’s made all the difference in the quality of work and the strength of our community.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We’ve never been willing to compromise on our vision—even if it meant losing money. Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, delivering exceptional tattoos paired with an outstanding client experience. Clients are the heart of this business. It’s essential that they’re treated with respect, care, and professionalism.

There were times when we had incredibly talented artists whose work spoke for itself—but their attitude toward clients didn’t align with our values. As hard as it was, we made the decision to part ways in order to protect our brand and our reputation. In the long run, maintaining integrity in how you treat people—both clients and team members—is what sustains success. Talent alone isn’t enough; it has to come with the right mindset and respect for the craft and the people behind it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.trilogyatelier.com
• Instagram: @trilogyatelier
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMqaGTn2h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

1. Ozge Kul 2. Dmytro Musiienko 3. Alejandro Josits 4. Ozge Kul 5. Fabio Betti 6. Alejandro Josits 7. Alejandro Josits 8.Dmytro Musiienko