We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Valentina Riabova. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Valentina below.
Valentina, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I believe that in terms of self esteem or as another question mentioned – so called imposter syndrome, my case went pretty easy. I have graduated from so many art schools that my education level didn’t allow me to feel imposter syndrome or feel less respected in the industry being a woman or a beginner. My confidence in my knowledge was helping with it directly
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Im an artist from Saint Petersburg Russia with a classical art education with degrees not only in painting but in graphic and fashion design.
My interest to the human body had led me to discovering the art of Shibari, a Japanese tool for nonverbal communication that we use in performances and private practice. It’s a rope bondage session that combines meditation and hypnosis with an intricate artistic expression, power exchange and torture play.
My tattoo career allowed me to move to US 2 years ago as an exceptional representative of the industry. It was mainly achieved thanks to my life portrait tattooing. I get a model to pose while I sketch them and tattoo their face on the arm of their partner/sibling or loved one. I use no stencil and no photo reference and make the tattoo in full color, which no one else has ever done in the world considering the aspect of likeness. Freehand tattooing allowed me to teach and judge worldwide.
About the events I’m actually planning to open my tattoo shop in Austin Texas in the early 2025 and make a solo art exhibition in Manhattan, in SoHo in January.
My paintings combine rope art with emotional abstract backgrounds and realistic portrait in it. It’s a series of works where I blend all my passions together and share how I view the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I guess it would be painting and drawing, design, psychology.
Shibari and tattooing are very connected not only due to inflicting pain for the sake of achieving an aesthetically pleasing result but in a way that you have to know the anatomy and understand the ideas of design and of psychology. That’s why I picked the studio name « sharp objects » because anatomy, design, tattooing, drawing and bdsm – are all products of using sharpness one way or another 🙂
My advice to people who only start their career is to just stay as curious as possible and observe and take on any opportunity to learn. I got tattooed by all my favorite artists to pick their brain and see what they are about
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would love to work on more art seminars so I’m looking for students and co organizers
I’d love to raise the culture around Shibari in US and get to do Shibari performances here like we did in Europe: clubs, concert halls etc. People who want to model or who d like to order a performance from me are welcomed to reach out on my socials or via e mail.
I’d love to work on full figure sculpture art projects. Anyone who’d like to share that experience – can hit me up.
Tattoo related – my new studio will be open for guest spots and resident artists, I can always organize tattoo seminars upon request there as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Valtatboo.com
- Instagram: Val_tatboo
Image Credits
Victoria Broshkina
Wendy Scoggins
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
