Meet Kimi Gao | Tattoo artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimi Gao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimi, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
I grew up wanting to be a manga artist—draw stories, not just pictures. Eventually, I found tattooing, and realized skin could be my canvas. But I never left that narrative impulse behind. My tattoos aren’t just anime characters—they’re structured compositions, almost like posters: layered, geometric, dense with emotion and symbolism.

By the end of my career, I want to be known not just for a style, but for building a new language of tattooing—where anime aesthetics meet graphic design, where tattoos can read like storyboards. I want to publish works, curate exhibitions, and help define what narrative tattooing can become for the next generation. Ultimately, I’m still telling stories—I just use skin instead of paper now.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My foundation in art began early, with formal training in basic forms, structure, and spatial composition. I started in elementary school studying the fundamentals—how shapes interact, how volume is created through line and shadow—and gradually progressed into sculpture, where I learned to think in three dimensions. That early discipline still informs my tattoo work today: I design with structure in mind, always considering how a piece will move with the body and how each element supports the overall form.

This background gave me a strong sense of visual balance, which I now apply to tattoos that merge illustrative storytelling with geometric clarity. I’m especially focused on building designs that hold their shape and meaning over time—works that aren’t just stylistically striking, but technically sound and conceptually refined.

The path here hasn’t been easy. Earning trust in a competitive field takes more than talent—it requires consistency, critique, and constant evolution. But those challenges pushed me to develop a practice rooted in intention. Each tattoo I create is approached like a complete composition, built to last and resonate.

What I want people to understand about my work is this: it comes from a place of discipline, structure, and deep respect for both the art form and the skin it lives on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Start in Downtown LA for art galleries and architecture—The Broad, MOCA, maybe even a quick walk through the Bradbury Building. Grab lunch at Little Tokyo, then head to the Arts District for coffee and dinner. That area’s full of creative energy—murals, converted warehouses, and concept shops.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest shoutout goes to my partner Mo Chen, who’s not only been there for me personally, but also played a huge role in shaping me as a tattoo artist. She’s my mentor—the one who taught me how to push past shortcuts, stay focused, and respect the process. Her standards are high, and her support is real. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without her.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimi_tattooist/

Image Credits
Kimi