VANIA ALVARADO
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Vania spent most of her life along the East Coast before settling in Texas with her dog, Cheech. She comes from a large Puerto Rican family and is one of five siblings. She is the only one who chose a creative path.
Art has always played a central role in her life. She studied commercial art in college, which eventually led her to discover tattooing and has remained in this path since 2013. Over the years, she has built a career that bridges both the artistic and operational sides of the industry, working as both a tattoo artist and in management roles.
Now she gets to combine her love for art with her drive to assist, support, and uplift others at Upside Tattoo. She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment for both clients and fellow artists, and she values the deep connection and sense of service that come with working in this industry. For her, being in the art field is about the people, the stories, and the community we build together that we can heal through.