Wild Mike shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Wild Mike, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, hands down.
I’ve learned that talent and intelligence can only take you so far, and energy burns out if you’re not fueled by the right purpose. But integrity—that’s the foundation everything else has to stand on.
As a tattoo artist, leather craftsman, and now building my own clothing line, my reputation is everything. If people can’t trust me—if they don’t feel the honesty, heart, and realness behind what I do—then none of the designs, logos, or ideas matter.
To me, integrity is showing up the same person in every room—whether I’m tattooing, hand-tooling leather, or launching Wild Mike Art Co.
I want my kids, my customers, and even strangers to know that what I stand for is real. The energy and intelligence come naturally when you’re working from that kind of foundation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name’s Mike, and for my entire career as an artist I went by the alias King Slick.
But now we have rebuilt everything from the ground up to include the brand, logo and even the name.
My new “moniker” is Wild Mike.
I’ve been a tattoo artist since 2007, mentored by the late Boog Star, and along the way I fell in love with leathercraft too—hand-tooling pieces with the same kind of detail and grit I put into my tattoos. Art has always been my outlet, my therapy, and my way of leaving something behind that lasts longer than I do.
Wild Mike Art Co. is my rebrand and my next chapter. It’s the clothing line I’ve always wanted to launch—tattoo-inspired, bold, gritty but also a little ‘faith- based’. (Our New logo has a Cross embedded in the center).
It’s not just T-shirts and hoodies; it’s an extension of my tattoo business, my leatherwork, and my whole journey.
The designs are personal, rooted in that tattoo culture I grew up in, but with a message that’s bigger than just the ink.
What makes this special to me is I’m finally seeing it through from start to finish—new logo, new website, and a brand that represents everything I stand for: Faith, Art, and Hustle.
And once Wild Mike Art Co. is out there, my next mission is launching my Christian clothing brand, because at the end of the day, I want to use my art and my work to spread the Gospel.
We’re all sinners, but through Jesus Christ, we can be saved—and I want my clothing to carry that message in a way that connects with people who might never step foot in a church.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks bonds between people the fastest is pride and lack of communication.
When someone feels unheard, disrespected, or like their trust was broken, walls go up quick.
I’ve seen it in friendships, in family, even in business.
Ego can destroy relationships faster than anything.
But what restores those bonds?
Forgiveness. Grace. Humility.
For me, I’ve had to learn that none of us are perfect—we’re all gonna mess up. But if you can put your pride aside and truly apologize, or forgive someone who wronged you, that’s when healing happens.
And honestly, my faith has shown me the best example of that.
Jesus forgives us daily, even when we don’t deserve it. If He can forgive me, then I’ve got no excuse not to try to extend that same grace to others.
At the end of the day, bonds are rebuilt through love, honesty, and humility—being real with each other.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be this:
“You’re stronger than you realize, and you don’t have to have it all figured out right now.”
Growing up, I was so hard on myself—struggling in school, battling depression, making mistakes, and feeling like I was behind.
If I could talk to that younger version of me, I’d remind him that every setback is just part of the process, and none of it makes him less worthy of love or success.
I’d tell him to keep pushing forward, even when the world feels heavy.
To trust that God has a plan, and that the very things he feels are breaking him will one day become the exact tools he uses to build his future.
And most of all, I’d tell him not to give up—because one day he’ll be proud of how far he’s come, and his kids will look up to him as the man he always hoped to be.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably tell you that what matters most to me is my family.
Being a father is everything to me—I want to be present, supportive, and the kind of dad my kids can look up to.
They’d also say I care about being solid, about being a real one.
To me, that means being loyal, dependable, and true to who I am.
At the end of the day, titles and success come and go, but if my kids know I’m a good father and my friends know I’m a good man, then I’m living right.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was a man who stood on faith, family, and integrity.
That I wasn’t perfect, but I never stopped pushing forward and trying to become better.
I want my kids to be able to say their dad showed up for them, that he loved them unconditionally, and that he gave them everything he had in his heart. I want them to remember me as a man who wasn’t perfect, but who tried—and who would do anything for them.
It was never about chasing money or fame. My mission has always been to make sure that when I leave this earth, my kids will be in a position to be okay.
Life isn’t easy—it throws curveballs at all of us—but I want to equip them with the tools to navigate it successfully.
And more than that, I want them to know that whenever life gets too heavy and they feel like giving up, they can always turn to the Lord for strength and guidance.
I hope people remember me as a man who worked hard, who sacrificed, and who was willing to do whatever it took to make things better for himself and his family.
And if my story is remembered at all, I want it to be that I left this world better than I found it—and that I stayed true to the purpose God gave me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Wildmikeart.com
- Other: *Currently completing the rebranding process*
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WildMikeArt.com
