Ivan Herrera July 24-26, 2025

Ivan Herrera

Where are you from, Ivan?

I’m from São Paulo, Brazil.

How did you get into tattooing?

It’s actually a funny story—my younger brother had a motorcycle accident, and at the time, I was already getting into tattooing. He spent about 7 or 8 months in a cast with a broken leg, and he asked me to draw some tattoo flash on it. Fast forward to the day he had to get the cast changed—when the nurse saw it, he asked, “Who did this to you??” My brother laughed and said, “My brother did those designs.” That was basically how it all started.

And you were an artist from an early age?

Of course, drawing was always part of my life. I’ve been drawing since I was a kid—not as often as I wanted, but it was always there. That’s really how tattooing began for me.

Have you traveled around mich? I know you are now living in Germany.

Tattooing gave me the opportunity to travel—I’ve worked all over Brazil. Eventually, I ended up doing a guest spot in Pennsylvania, and naturally, I had to experience what it was like to live in the States.

How do you see Brazil’s place in the tattoo culture and who are the important tattooers there that have impacted you?

Tattoo culture in Brazil has its own charm. Back in the day, the ones who paved the way for what it is today had to pretty much learn everything by doing it. There was no access to proper equipment or information—people just figured it out. That led to the development of a truly unique Brazilian tattoo style. No matter what genre or segment, it stands on its own.

Names like Mauricio Teodoro, Alemão, Tita, Maurão Crazy—along with a few others whose names I can’t recall right now—opened the doors to what we’re able to do today.

I’m deeply thankful to everyone who helped me along the way. People like Henrique Mattos—an amazing tattooer who sadly stepped away from the craft after seeing what the industry has become. And of course, Rico Daruma, with his unique take on Japanese style. Ivan Szazi too. Honestly, the list is long.

As for myself—yeah, I’m grumpy as fuck… LOL But I’ve got a big heart, and I don’t take shit for granted (well, mostly).