We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gilberto Aguayo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Gilberto , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
The first time I realized I wanted to pursue art professionally was when I was around 14 years old. I remember sitting with a pencil in my hand, sketching for hours without noticing the time passing. Every line felt natural, like something I was supposed to be doing. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion I couldn’t ignore. Art became the one place where everything made sense—where I could express myself, escape, and create something that felt meaningful. As I got older, friends, teachers, and even strangers started noticing my work, asking me to draw things for them, and encouraging me to take it seriously. That’s when it clicked: this wasn’t just a hobby anymore. It was the beginning of a path. From that moment, I never stopped drawing, learning, and pushing myself. Art opened opportunities I never imagined—painting murals across Florida, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica—and it has become a core part of who I am. That early spark at 14 was the moment I realized this wasn’t just something I loved—it was the life I wanted to build.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a visual artist, muralist, and tattoo artist based in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been creating art since I was 14 years old, when drawing became the one thing I could lose myself in for hours. What began as simple sketches grew into a passion that shaped my life and eventually became my full-time career. Art has taken me from Florida to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, allowing me to leave my work on walls, canvases, and skin across different communities. I specialize in blending realism with bold abstract geometry, nature, and cultural storytelling to create murals and tattoos that feel alive and meaningful. Whether I’m painting a large-scale wall, designing a canvas piece, airbrushing a custom project, or creating a tattoo, I treat every artwork with intention and detail.
In both murals and tattoo work, I help clients transform their spaces—or their bodies—into something memorable and visually powerful. For businesses and public spaces, I create high-impact murals that reflect identity, culture, and environment. For tattoo clients, I create custom, meaningful designs that combine realism, 3D elements, and personal symbolism. What sets me apart is my ability to merge realism with modern 3D abstract forms, cultural motifs, and futuristic touches, giving my work depth, emotion, and a unique visual identity. I provide complete services: concept development, digital mockups, 4K designs, and full execution, ensuring clients understand the vision from start to finish.
I’m proud of the trust people and businesses have placed in me—restaurants like Don Julio’s, Casa Vieja, Grillers PR, Tequila Garden, Flex Auto, Sam Flax Wall Art, as well as private collectors and tattoo clients who wear my art permanently. What I want potential clients and followers to know is that art isn’t just my career; it’s a core part of who I am. Every mural, tattoo, and design is created with care, storytelling, and a commitment to excellence. I’m always growing, always learning, and always looking for the next wall—or canvas or person—where I can create something meaningful.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing how something that started in my mind becomes a real experience for someone else. There’s nothing like watching a mural transform a wall, a business, or a neighborhood — or seeing a tattoo become a meaningful part of someone’s life. Art allows me to connect with people without needing words; it brings emotion, identity, and energy into spaces. The moment when someone steps back, looks at the finished piece, and feels something — pride, nostalgia, inspiration — that’s what makes everything worth it. Knowing that my work can impact a community, elevate a space, or touch someone personally is the kind of reward you can’t put a price on.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Yes. My mission as an artist is to create work that transforms spaces and connects people to their culture, their environment, and their own sense of identity. I want every mural, tattoo, or artwork I create to carry emotion, history, and purpose. My goal is to honor where communities come from while also inspiring where they’re going. Art changed my life, and now I want my art to have that kind of positive impact on others—to bring beauty, pride, and storytelling to the places and people I work with. Every project is an opportunity to leave something meaningful behind, and that’s what drives me every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inkedbytitoaguayo.com
- Instagram: @titoaguayo85
- Facebook: Inked by Tito Aguayo
