We were lucky to catch up with Mario Santacruz-martinez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mario, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Something my mom did right that has impacted my life, and in turn my career, is water my heart and soul with the language of art. Growing up in a first generation immigrant household, we spoke Spanish at home and when at school we would learn English. This juxtaposition left me unsure of my place in the worlds I was navigating, I became recluse when I went to school, barely speaking and not understanding how to navigate the pace of this experience.
My mother understood the difficulties I was moving through because my 3 older siblings had gone through this same experience.
My mother, by hand, drew out every letter of the alphabet, and with it a drawing for every word. The letter “A” was red apple, “B” a golden brown bear, and so on. Every drawing, every stroke of the pencil, the marker, and the crayon, an act of love. Was It language I could understand: communication, soul to soul compassion, for the worlds I was navigating. Every card a life raft, a bridge, a way of understanding the world.
Mi madre mi ensenio otro mundo,
my mother showed me another world.
Being financially restricted my mother created these bridges of communication for me, and showed me a way of being, of speaking and listening without words. After this art would become my most fluent language, when words failed me in English or Spanish, art didn’t.
Art continues to be my best communicator and that something my mom taught me, that is something I hope to pass on.

Mario, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I didn’t grow up around tattoos, neither in my family or my hometown of Brush, Colorado where there wasn’t even a tattoo shop. I thought connecting with tattoos would be through art, but I’m reality it was through the marking, the transformation, and the choice.
I grew up tripping, falling, full of scars, reminders of a life lived. Scars to me were more often than not a permanent mark by life I had no choice in. For example, when I was 6, my face was mauled by a dog. I needed stitches on my nose, cheeks, neck, chin, and lips, I wore these scars, marked by life. Without my choice, I was changed: I was transformed, physically and spiritually forever.
Fast forward, I’m 22, just moved to Greeley to learn the art of tattooing at my first apprenticeship. I have zero tattoos and believe my love for art would be enough to ground me in this practice.
My tattoo apprenticeship falls through because my foundation for this practice is not grounded in a deeper connection than art. Fast forward 3 years later: a world pandemic, 2 apprenticeships later, and much reflection, I see clearly my personal connection with this practice. Through art of course, but deeper than that, this is a ritual of transformation called, tattooing.
Physically and spiritually: life has hurt, scared, and marked us all in ways we had little to no choice in. Tattooing, is the autonomy to recognize that, and to honor that metamorphosis. Tattoos are a symbol of, “I have been changed by life without my consent, but this mark, this art, this tattoo, this change, I created. I embraced. I chose. I wear this transformation proudly.”
Through this deep understanding of what tattooing means to me, I can honor any and every decision a client is looking for. Whether it be the style, the details, placement, most of all in creating a safe space for all emotions to flow throughout the session. Transformation is a cocktail of emotions that flow like a river: no forcing, and no holding back. Tattoos are a healing experience, I see the practice as a medicine, I take in every client with tender care for the transformation they are looking to embark on, my duty is not to sway them in any direction of my choice, but to honor their choices as best I can with my technical knowledge, a listening ear, and mindful experience.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A time I had to pivot in life and career was the spring of 2023, I had finished my tattooing apprenticeship. The whole length of my apprenticeship was a year, I worked a full time job at Wing Shack, as well as a minimum of 30 hours a week at my apprenticeship I worked over 60 hours every week for over a year. After much self reflection, I opened up to the idea with multiple discussions with my favorite artist, girlfriend, and best friend, Jae. I can not emphasize enough, Jaedyn is an inspiration to me in life, in art, and in every aspect of life. She has watered my heart, creativity, and life. I am grateful, talks with her assured me like the Sun rising in morning. After opening up to her, conversations with my friends, family, and coworkers came: I decided to do tattooing and art, full time. I was terrified, I was leaving the comfort of a weekly paycheck, health, and life insurance for a dream, a year prior, I could never fathom.
A week after I left my job, my car broke down, I would walk a few miles to work and to water this dream. I went through incredible worries, anxieties, sadness, but also, deep happiness, radical optimism, and so much love and support from my girlfriend, friends, and family.
The world turns, and turns: a year and a half later, I am still a full time working artist.
I am my younger self’s wildest dream. I am the person I needed when I was younger. I am a compilation of all the love my community has watered me with do be where I am.
If you’re reading, this mi gente:
Te paso gracias por ayer por hoy y por siempre de el corazon de mi corazon por amor mi corazon y mis sueños te amo por siempre.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My personal goal through art is to make this big world a little smaller. Art is a bridge in this world anyone can build one, and anyone can meet someone on the other side.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @marsarte_ @santacruztattoos

Image Credits

Portrait photo of me by: Kim Desmond @kimdesmondphotography on instagram