Panel: The Art and Business of Tattooing

Look behind the scenes of tattoo artist Mynt Ortega and Wesley Haack to learn about their creatives processes, business journeys, and how they got to where they are today. 

Enkhzaya (aka Mynt) Davaanyam-Ortega [she/they] is an artist, tattooer originally from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She's a co-owner of Sacred Rose Tattoo. Her love for art stems from watching her mother create fashion design illustrations when she was a child—she’s known she was going to be a tattooer since she was very young. Mynt works carefully and methodically to provide the best possible art and service to her clients. Her experience as an artist and a small business owner helps her bring a certain passion, communication skills, and (most importantly) love to her work at Sacred Rose Tattoo. When not at the studio, Mynt can be found helping her partner Matt [they/them] manage their small business (a handmade marketplace named Modern Mouse) in Alameda, reading at an outdoor cafe, or playing Mario Kart or Fall Guys on Nintendo Switch.

Wesley Haack is a California born-and-raised, transgender artist. With a B.S. in Biology and a background in natural history, Wes applies a technical eye to natural aesthetics. He completed his tattoo apprenticeship in 2022 and is a full-time tattoo artist in Oakland. Wes prioritizes physical and emotional safety in his tattoo practice, intentionally creating a safe space for gender-variant, neurodivergent, disabled and other marginalized clients. In addition to tattooing, Wes is a printmaker, filmmaker and taxidermist. Most recently, he opened a solo show “Wings of Wood: the Art of Wesley Haack” at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History and donated his woodblock print, We Will Not Forget You, Tony McDade, to the permanent collection at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire, WI.

Connect:

Mynt Ortega | Website | Mynt Ortega | Instagram

Wesley Haack | Website | Wesley Haack | Instagram