Meet Joanna Gacek | Tattoo Artist

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

Hi Joanna, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose an artistic career because it’s the only place where I don’t feel boxed in. I’ve always been the type who needs my own rhythm and my own schedule, my own space, the freedom to travel and create when something hits me. Tattooing and painting lets me work alone, manage myself, and still connect with people in a deep way through what I make.

I don’t thrive in strict environments. I actually function better when I’m fully responsible for myself. Creative work gives me discipline without the cage, and that’s where I do my best.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Before tattooing, I worked in hospitality management and that’s where I built my work ethic. Long hours, fast environments, dealing with every personality you can imagine… it trained me to manage myself, stay organized, and perform under pressure.

Somewhere in all of that, I took a leap into another passion of mine: music. I enrolled at the Institute of Audio Research for audio engineering, and eventually I hit a point where I had to decide whether the music industry was my lane or if I should go fully into art. Deep down, art felt more natural to me. So I committed to improving my skills, especially since I never went to art school.

I started an apprenticeship at Ink Gallery under Tiffany Tattooz. For a year and a half I did tattoos for little to no money, learning everything from the ground up. When I finally pushed myself into bigger projects, I realized I had been undercharging and undervaluing myself for way too long. In this industry, an insecure artist doesn’t get far. You have to believe in your own ability before anyone else will.

That was a huge turning point for me. I had to learn how to stay grounded, stay humble, keep studying, keep practicing… but also recognize my worth. Finding that balance is what got me to where I am today.

What sets me apart is that I’m always evolving. I take my time with clients, I pour myself into my portrait work, and I care about giving people something meaningful. My brand comes from real growth, discipline, and a genuine love for creating. None of this was easy, but every step shaped the artist I am now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A perfect week for me would actually involve bouncing around everywhere. I’m someone who loves the city as much as I love the mountains, however mountains win by a long shot. I can enjoy a dive bar just as easily as a Michelin-star spot. So the itinerary would be a blend of both worlds.

We’d start every morning with the gym to get the endorphins going so we have the energy to run around all day. Then it’s straight into the city: good restaurants, some good street food and maybe a cocktail bar at night, definitely a comedy club or concert. I love mixing high and low so one night you might find us eating an insane fancy meal, and the next we’re in a little spot with an old carpet that still smells like cigarettes and a Juke Box that somehow has queued Billie Holiday, Marty Robbins, Metallica, Destiny’s Child, and Eagles. So no one knows what’s actually going on and I love it.

But the next day I’m grabbing the car and heading straight up to the mountains for a full day hike. After that, we’re hitting a sauna and a cold plunge, reset everything and either cooking something amazing back at a cabin with some shots of mezcal or finding a local hidden gem for dinner. The night ends in a hot tub with music playing and a fire pit going.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d give my shoutout to the people who saw the artist in me before I took it seriously myself. In the beginning, I was stuck in one lane and treated art like a hobby, something I did on the side. I didn’t think a creative career was realistic for me. But the people around me kept pushing, kept reminding me that my work deserved space.

Their support is what made me take the leap into tattooing and painting full-time. Every client who trusted me early on, every friend who said ‘you need to be doing this for real,’ every person who pushed me out of my comfort zone played a part in where I am now. My career didn’t happen in just in isolation.

Website: https://Www.joannatattoos.com

Instagram: @joannatattoos