Meet Jaquelyn Puma

We were lucky to catch up with Jaquelyn Puma recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jaquelyn, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

Haters are always going to be around. If you don’t have any haters you aren’t poppin. Especially in the tattooing industry, I’ve had to go through multiple shops to find one I feel safe in. There was one shop I worked at for a while where my coworkers regularly took and destroyed my property and it went as far as one of my coworkers keying my car during a session. At first I didn’t know what to do to stop the situation, but eventually I gained the courage to get police involved and leave the shop that rewarded that behavior.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Since childhood, I’ve been enamored with art. Originally from just outside of New York City, I graduated from an all-girls high school to study at Pratt, FIT, and Pace University and completed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Fashion. I’ve explored a gamut of mediums including graphite, block print, acrylic, watercolor, India ink, pastel, charcoal, colored pencil, spray paint, and marker. After college, I moved to Fort Lauderdale where I began modeling and a freelance art career, primarily beginning with murals. After becoming inspired by tattoos, I was accepted into an apprenticeship. My tattoo career officially began in 2019 and have been working as a full time artist ever since.

In my tattoo career my focus is primarily sacred geometry, pointillism, and illustrative line work. I love traveling and bringing my talent of tattooing all over the world.

I have a massive art collective includes portraits that are peppered with psychedelic and chaotic stardust, as well as a wide variety of subjects that have a pop / street / splatter / graffiti finishes. My art reflect how I feel inside and painting is my way of getting negative emotions out. Stay tuned for new art coming for Art Basel!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My resilience, determination, and fearlessness have gotten me where I am today.

The process of evolving and improving required a great deal of resilience. In moments where things didn’t go as planned, I take a moment to reflect and keep moving forward. Resilience allows me to get through challenges without slowing down.

There are countless iterations, challenges, and obstacles to overcome when creating art. Pushing through these challenges helps me refining my abilities, and improve my performance. This persistence has been key in ensuring that I keep improving, even in the face of difficulties or setbacks.

In the face of new trends, and the forever changing tattoo industry, fearlessness has been crucial. My ability to navigate and process vast amounts of information comes from my foundation that doesn’t shy away from complexity or uncertainty. Whether it’s an entirely new problem or a shift in user behavior, the ability to engage without fear of failure is powerful.

For folks who are early in their journey, stay determined in your pursuits. The path to success is rarely linear, and obstacles always arise. Keep your goals in focus, maintain a positive mindset, and put in the hard work needed to overcome setbacks. Consistency is the key to breakthroughs.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did was trusting and nurturing my artistic potential from a young age. When my teachers recognized my abilities and encouraged them to put me in specialized art programs, my parents fully supported that vision. Instead of viewing it as a fleeting interest, they saw it as something worth fostering, and they made sure I had the resources and opportunities to explore it deeply.

At 12, when I was given the opportunity to be a teacher’s aid in an after-school art program, my parents didn’t just see it as a fun activity—they saw it as a chance for me to grow and develop leadership skills. That experience of teaching and working with other kids sparked a passion for sharing art with others, and it planted the seed for my future work as an art educator.

When I went on to study sculpture and art history at NYSSA, my parents continued to encourage my academic pursuits in art, helping me understand the historical and theoretical context behind the work I was creating. They never limited me to just one medium or one aspect of art; they allowed me to explore the full breadth of my interests, from sculpture to art history, all of which helped shape my perspective as an artist.

In Florida, when I taught art to toddlers at a Montessori school, it was another pivotal moment where my parents’ support allowed me to expand my role as an educator. It helped me realize how art can be a form of expression and communication for even the youngest children. The experience taught me the value of patience, creativity, and how to inspire others in ways that are meaningful for them.

Through all of this, the most impactful thing my parents did was giving me the space to grow as an artist and an educator. They saw my potential early on and never pushed me into a single path. Instead, they provided the encouragement and support I needed to explore and develop my craft. Their faith in my journey, from teaching kids art to studying sculpture and sharing my love for creativity with others, was foundational to my growth both as an artist and as a person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://j-puma.com
• Instagram: @jpumaa @jpumatatts @jpumapaints
• Other: https://link.me/jpumaa

Image Credits

@lokophotographydr and @alyssawilks on Instagram