We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ivana Cotto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ivana , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I’ve taken many risks throughout my life, both curated and non-curated, from experimenting with artistic choices on an artwork, to leaving jobs for creative opportunities. For me, risk-taking is about diving into the unknown and trusting that growth lies on the other side.
One defining moment came during my fourth year as an art major in painting with a minor in art education. I was working as a barista and selling my artwork at pop-ups to fund my studies when a friend recommended me for an art teaching position at a school I went to. I was finishing my minor in art education so , I decided to embrace the challenge.
Teaching taught me a lot, how to create curriculums, engage with students, and overcome my fear of public speaking. But balancing teaching and my studies became overwhelming, and after a year, I chose to step away to focus on my thesis and personal projects. I went back to work as a barista.
Shortly after, another opportunity arose: joining a muralist collective for the municipality of San Juan. Despite being nervous of this new employment, I left my barista job and embraced the chance to grow as an artist. This led to incredible experiences collaborating on public art projects and connecting with other creatives.
While working as a muralist, I pursued my passion for tattooing. I started experimenting with hand-poke tattoos back when the pandemic stroke, building a small portfolio on Instagram. In January, I was offered a residency at a tattoo studio in Santurce. Taking that risk while still working as a muralist was daunting, but it allowed me to grow in new ways.
Today, I’m a full-time muralist and part-time tattoo artist, constantly learning and evolving. Looking back, I realize that taking risks has been essential to my journey. Each leap into the unknown has brought important lessons, even when the outcome wasn’t perfect.
When faced with a risk, I ask myself: Will this help me grow? Am I ready to face the consequences? I believe every risk, big or small, offers an opportunity to evolve as an artist and as a person.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Ivana Cotto Rodriguez, but you can call me RÍZO. I’m a multidisciplinary artist from San Juan, Puerto Rico, currently working as a full-time muralist for the municipality of San Juan, a part-time tattoo artist, and an all-around creative explorer. I collaborate with a collective of artists designing and painting public art projects across the city, and when I’m not working on murals, you’ll find me tattooing in Santurce or experimenting with other artistic projects.
My journey with art began thanks to my older sister, whose art classes sparked my curiosity for materials, colors, and textures. Music, singing, and acting also inspired me, but it was at 14, when I transferred to a specialized visual arts school, that I fully immersed myself in the creative world. At first, I didn’t see art as a career, just a passion. Thankfully, my parents supported my decision to continue studying art, even when there were societal pressures about its viability as a profession: “if you are an artist you will die of hunger”.
I graduated high school with a focus on drawing and later earned my degree in painting, with a minor in art education, at the College of Arts in San Juan. During college, I began experimenting with various mediums, drawing, painting, sculptures, and shared my work on Instagram while searching for my artistic voice. These experiments eventually led to making and selling wire earrings, painted accessories, tote bags, and t-shirts at pop-up events. My art explored themes of the people that surrounded me, nature, urban life, femininity, and self-discovery.
Over time, I adopted the name ENTRELOSRIZOS (“between the curls”) to represent my journey of introspection and creativity. Each curl symbolized a thought transformed into art. During the pandemic as I mentioned before, I ventured into tattooing, discovering a passion for the hand-poke technique. What began as practice on myself evolved into creating meaningful tattoos for friends, family, and clients.
Today, I go by RÍZO, a name relating to ENTRELOSRIZOS. I am one curl and the sum of them all too. My art is rooted in Puerto Rican culture and inspired by ornamental designs, neo-tribal aesthetics, mysticism, music, and the whimsy of experimentation. My art also plays with introspection in a mystical way, inviting curiosity and connection. I strive to make my tattoos and visual art resonate with others.
My focus now is on refining my craft, collaborating with other creatives, and inspire through authentic creations. I’m deeply grateful to live a life fueled by art and to share meaningful moments with the people who trust me to leave a permanent mark on their skin.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to experience life deeply and transform those experiences into art. It’s about taking an idea, giving it form, and sharing it in a way that resonates with others. Connecting with someone who sees your work and realizing it has impacted them is incredibly fulfilling.
Equally rewarding is the creative process itself playing in the moment that keeps me in touch with my inner child. I’m constantly amazed by the power of art to inspire change, spark action, and provoke thought. Being part of that transformative process is one of the greatest joys of being a creative.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The driving mission behind my creative journey is to inspire others to express themselves, share their stories, and pursue their dreams (something I’m constantly working on too). Art has been a transformative force in my life, helping me better understand myself and my surroundings. I’m excited to see where this path takes me as I continue experimenting with aesthetics, exploring new mediums, and collaborating with other creatives, including musicians.
I draw inspiration from artists who share their craft with honesty and vulnerability, it reminds me to keep going and to stay authentic in my work. My goal is to bring my ideas to life like art-works, exhibitions, tattoo designs, and other projects, all while motivating others to create and connect.
Ultimately, I want to bring up a sense of play and genuine expression in everything I do. One day, I hope to open a creative space where artists of all disciplines can come together, share their voices, and inspire one another.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @entrelosrizos / @rizotatu
Image Credits
@formadesigual @caughtdead