Meet Jayla Lewis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jayla Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jayla, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I grew up around people who worked hard for everything they had, so that became my standard. As a tattoo artist, I bring that same mindset to every appointment, every sketch, every detail. Every client who trusts me with their skin motivates me to show up early, stay late, and make sure my work always reflects my best

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As a new tattoo artist of 2 years —young, hungry, and having to fight for every opportunity—I learned early that not everyone has good intentions. Some people tried to take advantage of me or make me feel like I didn’t belong in this industry. But I kept going. I realized I didn’t need anyone to believe in me; I needed to learn how to believe in myself. Being brought down to the bottom forced me to build confidence from zero, and for that, I’m grateful. Every shop I came from taught me something, even if the lesson was simply that I never needed their validation—I just needed to have my own.

Something new I’m excited about is expanding my perspective as an artist. I’ve always believed that the best growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, so I’ve made it a priority to learn from artists around the world. In Summer 2026, I’ll be in Costa Rica studying, volunteering, and learning directly from local tattooers and creatives. I want to bring those influences back home and let them shape my technique, my style, and the way I approach my clients’ stories.

My brand is rooted in intention, community, and constant growth. I’m building something that feels personal, honest, and evolving—because I want my clients to see that I’m not just creating art for them, I’m growing with them too.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Resilience has been the most important part of my journey. I started young, had to fight for my place, and dealt with people who underestimated me or tried to take advantage. But every setback made me tougher.
Advice: Don’t expect the industry to make room for you—create your own space. Keep bouncing back, keep practicing, and let every challenge sharpen you instead of stopping you.

2. Teachability
Staying teachable opened the most doors for me. I learned from watching other artists, studying techniques, and stepping outside my comfort zone. One thing my brother told me that stuck with me is: “Practice, prepare, perform.” Those three words shaped the way I approach my craft—put the hours in, get ready, and then show up with confidence.
Advice: Always be a student. Stay curious, ask questions, study different styles, and be willing to be corrected. Growth comes from humility and hunger.

3. Self-Belief & Self-Reliance
I had to learn how to believe in myself when nobody else did. Once I stopped relying on validation from shops or other people and started trusting my own abilities, everything changed.
Advice: Build your confidence from within. Know your value, respect your boundaries, and trust your vision even when others don’t see it yet. Self-belief turns potential into progress.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, I’m definitely open to partnering and collaborating. I’m interested in connecting with creatives of all kinds—not just tattoo artists, but hairstylists, nail techs, estheticians, photographers, and anyone in the beauty or art world. When I was starting out, I did a lot of service-for-service collaborations, and I loved it. It helped me build connections, create content, and grow alongside other artists who were hustling just like me. I still value that same energy today: people who are passionate, motivated, open to sharing ideas, and excited to build something together.

I’m also open to collaborating during my upcoming travel and learning experiences. Since I’ll be studying and volunteering in Costa Rica in Summer ‘26, I’d love to link with international artists and creatives—whether it’s sharing techniques, hosting guest spots, or creating collaborative content.

Anyone interested in working together can reach out through my Instagram (@inkhaveninc) or business email ([email protected]) I’m open to genuine, creative partnerships that help all of us grow and elevate our craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://venue.ink/@inkhaveninc
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkhaveninc?igsh=MXg2dDlmdTZnNHYxbQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

photographers instagram:
@olivialeighanphotography
@keriacapturedit