There were a lot of factors that drew me to tattooing as a child, from the look to the aura people with tattoos emitted. Everything about them was just really cool to me! But the main thing that made me really want to get into tattooing was my grandmother. She had really, really cool tattoos on her face, her hands and her legs. I just really loved how they aged on her as well. I actually remember asking her if I could get the same ones she had, but unfortunately, the man who did them for her had passed away a very long time ago. She's no longer with us either, so anytime I look at my tattoos, they remind me of her and it's a way for me to carry a piece of her with me everywhere I go.

What made me believe it was possible to tattoo as a career in Nigeria was mainly the demand, can't lie. I saw how a lot of people were actually interested in tattoos and getting them and I just knew straight away that I'd love to be the person who administers these pieces of art on their bodies.

I'd say the hardest thing when I first started out was finding a space where I could freely practice and be 100% comfortable. I've moved spaces twice now but with the current space I have, I don't see myself leaving anytime soon and that's a really big blessing. Another challenge, I guess, was getting people to see the worth in my work. A lot of people, unfortunately, don't see tattooing or having tattoos as a respectable thing in life. People are constantly trying to lowball my prices and it's clear they don't see the value in my work. It's really hard navigating that particular setback and I know it's something I'm going to have to deal with for a long time. But I'm holding out hope that it'll get better as time goes on and as more people become educated on tattoos and their value.

I don't particularly have a specific mentor. I mainly learned from experience, tattooing myself and friends and also just by listening to other artists and learning from their shared experiences within the field!

My first few clients came as referrals from friends I tattooed for free when I first started out! They loved their tattoos, posted them, other people saw and slowly but surely, Irawo Modz rose from the ashes, lol.

There's this tattoo artist in London, Itonisha Rowe, whose work I'm absolutely obsessed with. She made me really want to challenge myself with larger projects and more blackout/bold work pieces. I also use my own culture as a source of inspiration.

I wouldn't say I'm known for a specific style. I do just about anything and everything as long as it's within my skill set. But as my career progresses, I'd love to stick to and be known for a specific style of tattooing, which is bold work and symmetrical tattoos.

I do experiment with different styles. A lot of the work I've done I actually haven't posted on social media but those will be up at some point in the future.

Yes, absolutely, especially when it comes to custom work. My principle is that the person getting the tattoo has to be 100% on board and fully accept the design. I refuse to tattoo something someone isn't sure of. At the end of the day, I can't read someone's mind but as the tattooer, I do have the responsibility of making sure my client is satisfied with the art that will be on their body forever.

Lots of communication, comprehension and trust. Unless it's a piece where I'm getting full artistic control, I like to make sure that whatever image they have in their head is what is being brought to life.

Yes, I do. It usually starts with a picture they're using as inspiration and from there, they list elements they'd like to be incorporated into the design. We also discuss the body part the design will go on, as that can determine a lot in relation to the tattoo. After all those aspects of the consultation have been covered, the next step is for them to come in and get it done.

I'm usually straight up and honest with them, letting them know that it's not a project I'll be able to take on and I simply wish them the best, lol. Can't bite off more than I can chew.

We usually start off with a mood board and from there, it's easy to determine exactly what they have in mind.

It all starts with an idea, a concept created in my mind. Then I whip open Procreate and start sketching away. At this point, I'm not really thinking about the particular part of the body it'll be on; it's simply a design being brought to life. Once I reach the final product, I start looking at ways it can be tweaked to look better on skin.

I wouldn't say it's one particular moment. it's a burst of moments scattered across different times. The first time I ever held my very own tattoo machine was a moment I felt I had entered a new phase of my life. Another moment is the first time I tattooed one of my dearest friends. Another time was my first tattoo convention, my first flash sheet, my first booking, my first time tattooing someone's scalp (insane experience btw). So honestly it's an intricate web of moments that make it feel like I'm constantly reaching new levels both metaphorically and mentally, it's a calling I couldn't have ignored even if I tried.

Oh my days, yes! All the time! Especially when I first started out, I don't want to say I cringe every time I look at my past designs, but wow, what an improvement.

Absolutely. It made me realize how much of a perfectionist I can be—a perfectionist in the sense that it absolutely has to look like what I have in my head. Every little detail mattered to me, especially because I knew I'd be reaching new audiences. I wanted people to see who I was as a person just by looking at my art, to have a peek into my brain, to see Irawo for who they are. It also made me come to the conclusion that I'd love to do more collaborations with artists, not just artists who draw on paper or paint with acrylic, but artists who use their words to move worlds.

Quite frankly, I couldn't care less about the negative things people say about tattooing and having tattoos. If I did, I wouldn't be where I am today. People will always have something negative to say, regardless of what you do with your life. You might as well have or give tattoos while you're at it.

Firstly, tattoos are a part of us. Regardless of the culture you come from, tattoos have found their way into every nook and cranny of African heritage, from Uli designs in Igbo land to facial markings or zane in Fulani/Hausa culture. It has always inherently been a part of us. It's nothing new. Not only are you honoring your body by giving it consensual markings that tell your story but you're also honoring all those who came before you. And as long as it's something that makes you happy and you're not harming anyone in the process, then do it. Life is too short to allow other people's expectations to dictate how the rest of your life goes.

Honestly, at this moment, I'd say there isn't. I haven't been in the tattooing business long enough to know the ins and outs perfectly but like everything in life, tattooing is a practice that's constantly evolving. Right now, I'd say we're in an era where people are becoming more personal with what they get inked on their bodies. I'm seeing a lot of people, especially Africans in the diaspora, inking cultural symbols or pieces that are linked to their heritage in one way or another. So, I feel like every culture and background is being incorporated, if that makes sense?

Oh, absolutely! Not so much music, because I simply haven't explored that aspect just yet, but with literature and film, yes. I literally created a whole flash sheet based on a book and I had so much fun doing that. Drawing inspiration from other forms of media will always be an innate part of my creative process.

The first thing I do is give myself grace. Creativity is fluid, sometimes it flows in strong currents and sometimes it's barely a drop. Knowing this allows me to truly savor the moments when I have creative bursts while also giving myself permission to rest and recharge on days when I don't. Secondly, I never force anything. It took me five months to complete the Vagabonds! flash sheet. Yeah, that's a pretty long time. But I know that if I had rushed it, I wouldn't love what I created and that's the most important thing to me: making sure I genuinely love what I'm doing. Lastly, I try to keep myself surrounded by like-minded creatives, people who understand and validate my feelings during moments of uncertainty and self-doubt. I'm really thankful for everyone who has been part of my journey so far. They keep me going.

Absolutely! I'd actually love to host an exhibition where I tattoo whoever chooses to be adorned in Irawo's art. I already indulge in other forms of art. I paint and I even had a whole photography page before I started Irawo Modz (I'm still a photographer; I just don't post my work). It would be a great disservice to myself to limit my abilities to just one medium of art. I'm really excited for all the other mediums I've yet to discover.