HORIMAKI
彫まき
Japanese Traditional
/ Black & Grey Realism
$250/hour
Hello, I'm Hori Maki.
At 21, I moved to Australia on a working holiday visa, where I first encountered tattoo culture. Australia, like America, has a thriving tattoo scene – about one in five people there have tattoos. During my time there, I was immersed in surfing and chose to paint designs on surfboards for work. One day, a customer requested a dragon design, which led me to study various books and magazines. It was also when I first stepped into a tattoo shop. While getting my first tattoo, I noticed a sticker on the door for "Fukuoka First Generation Hori Gen." Discovering a Japanese tattoo artist's sticker in Australia filled me with admiration and respect. From that moment, it didn't take long to make my decision. I quit my job, packed my bags, returned to Japan, and the very next day, I was knocking on my future master's studio door.
After five years of rigorous apprenticeship, I moved to England. There, I sold artwork on the streets while visiting tattoo shops in search of work. After six months, I finally landed a job at an Italian woman's shop in Brixton, where I gained my first experience working in a tattoo studio.
When my visa expired the following year, I began a period of wandering, tattooing while traveling the world. With just one suitcase – half filled with clothes, half with tattoo equipment – I visited 14 countries over about four years, returning to Japan for only 1-2 weeks annually.
In 2014, I moved to the United States. By 2016, I had established my company and opened my first shop in downtown LA. It was challenging, with no support or family to help, and I often felt close to giving up. After temporarily closing the shop due to COVID-19, I focused on myself and let things unfold naturally. As a result, in 2022, I opened a new shop in Beverly Hills and married the love of my life.
It's been 18 years since I stepped onto the path of a tattoo artist on my 23rd birthday. I'm here today thanks to the support of many encounters along the way.
My expertise lies in traditional Japanese tattoos and Buddhist art. I specialize in creating harmonious designs that blend the client's individuality with Japanese tattoo styles, carefully placed to complement the body's natural lines. This is all done within a space that embodies the essence of Zen and Japanese aesthetics.
The spirit of Zen and Japanese culture resides in everyone, which is why people find beauty and even nostalgia in it. While expressions may differ, I believe they are all beautiful in their own way.
At Inked Zen, we've created a place where mind, body, space, and art converge. It's a space where connections between people can last long after the tattooing process is complete. This is the vision my husband and I had when we created Inked Zen.
I hope that someday, our paths may cross with you, the reader. Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy introduction."
⁃ M A K I
