We recently had the chance to connect with Zoey Hunter Vick and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zoey, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
This time in my life is honestly the most loved I have ever felt outside of the love my father gave me. I have people in my life who I have always had unconditional love with, but right now in my life I feel incredibly blessed to have so much love and loyalty around me from all different parts of my lif. It’s a pretty amazing feeling and no I do not believe I deserve it – I feel so very humbled often by the words and actions I see people giving me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am approaching thirty years as a tattoo artist and in the last few years I have really branched out into doing my art on skateboards, shoes, paintings and even Yeti cups. Being able to expand outside of the skin has become a new adventure for me that helps keep my creative light going, which in turn also helps me to continue to do my best in tattooing.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was an angry teenager who was trapped in the ideals society had put forth for artist kids. The world told me we were going to be nothing, that who I was inside was worthless in society. I had a father who saw me before I saw myself, he curbed that anger the best way he knew how and he taught me to tell the world to go f&*# itself and its ridiculous idea of who I needed to be. He taught me to stand up, face it head-on and be exactly who I am. Going against the grain in the 90’s was a different monster than it is now. I make no apologies for who I am to anyone and the world will never have a say in who I should be.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
After my father died my daughter passed within a year later and I kept that pain in a vault locked away for a very long time. After coming across so many clients suffering in the same exact grief, I started opening up and using my pain to help them with their pain. The experience of tattooing is already incredibly personal and when you are using it to celebrate a life lost all the emotions arise. Being able to use my own walk to help ease them or to just make them know they are not alone in this has created a powerful bond between myself and my clients.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
So, this is a bit more general – I’d say I admire the older generation tattooers. My friends know I’m talking about all of them. I admire their strength to survive the roller coaster we have all been on for decades; they have stood strong in their beliefs through everything thrown at them…the days where they were “ dirtbags” all the way through the rockstar stages and now in a world where many new artists give very little respect to what they not only have accomplished but the doors they opened for all of us. We stand here because they paved the way before us, they never backed down, gave up, quit – they persevered through all the changes, adapted and still held onto our history. It’s absolutely amazing and I feel privileged to sit at any of their tables.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I just hope they say I was honest, loyal and trustworthy – but I only hope that for those I love to hear…to comfort them. I hope my littles, my brother and my niece are proud of what legacy I’ve left for them. I hope they see me in the words of others in a way that makes them smile and laugh. Outside of that I don’t really care what people think of me in life so I definitely won’t care in death.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heartansoultattoo.com
- Instagram: zoeydmonster2
- Facebook: Zoey Hunter Vick
