Meet Mushky Rice | they/them – Tattoo artist, interdisciplinary creative, and performer on wheels

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

Hi Mushky, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have been an interdisciplinary artist for many years. I was working in outdoor education teaching ceramics and art. I had many small projects, instillations and creative endeavors over the years that brought money and income but none that stuck well enough to start a career over. While working at the outdoor school on the way to work one day I had a car accident. That moment was challenging physically and financially. I decided in that moment to give myself the space to shift towards a new career. After the accident I started getting coffee with friends and people in different creative fields. I met with an artist named ‘Who Tattooed You’ he invited me into his studio and showed me how he got started, I was instantly curious and excited to learn about tattooing. Tattooing seamed like the perfect career for me to create my own vision and business in.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

When it comes to art it really comes down to community and collaboration those are the values I try and remember in my practice and journey. As a tattoo artist I look to my community and friends. With my joy for them and my personal celebration I want to add to that culture and embodiment practices. The body is animated and activated when it comes to tattooing and performance art. As a queer and trans gender fluid artist in Oakland Ca, I have had many obstacles to get to who and where I am today. I grew up in a Chabad Jewish community center in San Rafael Ca as a middle child of 8 siblings. With the hustling and bustling of my youth I was always standing out, on purpose or by accident. Being a tattoo artist and all of the other parts of me feel far from that young person and at the same time close to who I am today. Choosing to form my own path and be loud about my own values is no stranger to me. At a young age I knew I was an artist and the religious life kept conflicting with my desire to exist as me in all of my creative desires. I am grateful for parts of my unconventional upbringing and feel it is a part of what has kept me courageous and community minded. My brand as a tattoo artist is something that will change and I love that about who I am and what I strive for. For so long I tried to be in one creative flow with on unique style, that just isn’t me. I want to interact with what is exciting and relevant to me in that moment, those things will forever be shifting. However my love for creativity and creating in relationship towards others will always be what I come back towards.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend was coming to visit me in Oakland I would take them to the Lake Merritt farmers market for fresh produce. I would take them to Delah Coffee for the best chai and good vibes. I would then take them to get a tattoo at Studio Noir Oakland where I work. We would go home to rest and make dinner from the farmers market produce and fresh herbs from my garden. Lastly we would go out dancing at Nectar Social club. I also would take them on Thursday evening to one of my favorite places, Panther skate plaza has a DJ and outdoor skate event that is my favorite place to be on a Thursday it is visitor friendly because they have a skate library where they lend out skates for visitors. I can’t forget if it happened to be the last Sunday of the month I would take them to the Brooklyn Basin for a drag show on skates by the water, the famous Rollin’ with the Homos.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow I love this question, so many people have been a huge support to me over this time. My mentor ‘Who Tattooed You’ has been so patient and generous in giving me the time and space to learn and grow as an artist. My friend Pao made a tattoo machine accessible to me along with Carlita. My friend Manz provided me with a ring light and helped me order some basic materials early on. My friend Ebri made a iPad accessible to me. Juice gave me their body to practice on and I am forever grateful. Honestly this list continues. When it comes to tattooing and success for me it comes down to my community support. Without all of these people and more it would have been really impossible and take a lot longer for my success. Honestly a big shout out to my performance art Mentor Danielle Abram’s R.I.P for early on seeing me as an artist and performer and a queer being with talent and possibility. It takes feeling seen to truly expand creatively.

Instagram: @mushkytattoo @mushkyrice

Image Credits
@Edgarruizphotography for my skating photos