We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sumi Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sumi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Tattoo workshop as a form of meditation — a way to learn a new skill while practicing focus and mindfulness.
I chose to host workshops to give more people who are interested in tattoos the opportunity to explore this craft and to share my own experience of how tattooing has helped me find a sense of calm and focus in a fast-paced world.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
With a background in illustration and graphic design, I’m always eager to explore new creative forms. When I first began learning tattooing, I discovered it as a powerful form of artistic expression, with a new surface, a new medium, and a unique way to find focus and inner calm. I now work as a tattoo artist at Vacation Forever and also serve as a curator at A Space Gallery, where I’ve had the opportunity to host tattoo workshops for the artist community. It’s been fulfilling to see people from both artistic and non-artistic backgrounds come together to explore tattooing as a new hobby and form of self-expression.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is transforming my personal perspective—and the way I see the world—into my work. As a tattoo artist, it’s especially meaningful to take someone else’s ideas and bring them to life through my own artistic lens, directly onto their body. That act of collaboration and trust is intimate and powerful. It’s not just about creating something visual—it’s about making something that carries personal meaning, for both me and the person receiving it.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
At the core of my creative journey is the desire to connect—visually, emotionally, and physically. Whether through illustration, tattooing, or curating, I’m driven by the idea of making art that resonates on a personal level while also creating space for others to express themselves. I’m especially interested in how art can be both intimate and public, permanent and fleeting—like a tattoo that’s deeply personal but always visible.
My goal is to keep exploring new mediums and collaborative experiences while staying true to a sense of calm, focus, and authenticity in the work. I want to keep building a practice that’s both expressive and accessible—one that invites others in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sumiiiz.com
- Instagram: @sumiiiz
