Meet Mackenzie Salzberg | Tattoo Artist & Art Student

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

Hi Mackenzie, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking has always been such a daunting action that I was scared to do. Due to my anxious brain, I will always think of the worst case endings or the “what ifs” when considering a major life choice. With that being said, I have made some major risk taking actions with my business and learned so so much from it! Since I do tend to overthink, I still feel like it’s best to really plan out the risk taking. Instead of thinking about the “what ifs”, think about the “what is”. Lay out all the facts of the situation and see if the payoff will be worth taking the risk. When I decided to go on my own with tattooing and start my own business, I made the best decision of my life with that risk taking. It has showed me that as long as you put in the work, you can truly make it happen!! Reminding yourself also that you will probably fail at some point along the way, but it will truly always pay off. I have gained more confidence in myself now to truly trust myself. I know that in order to get the gains you want, you will have to take some risks! I now can’t wait to take more risks in my future.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a black and gray, fine-line tattoo artist in Houston. My style is inspired by nature with a whimsical, fairy feel to it. While I do specifically a lot of this style, I am also very diverse and open to doing other styles as well! I have a very comforting private studio that allows for my clients to feel safe during their tattoo experience. I even got you on snacks, soda, and fidget toys! I am truly so proud to be in a space where I feel inspired to work in, while also creating a comfortable, peaceful environment for everyone. In my space, I also always welcome other artists to be able to create and make art pieces together. I also have a space where I sell some of my own physical art pieces! I got to where I am today by lots of hard work and mentorship from many, many peers. The road was not easy, but it truly pays off eventually. Throughout my journey, my main goal was to learn from as many people as possible. I always asked questions in every shop I walked in and any time I would personally get tattooed. This truly made the the journey a lot easier to get through. I learned so many new skills, and learned to be extremely open minded to hearing out what others had to say. After all the learning, I then did reflection on it and learned how I could adapt it to my own ways.
My brand is very much revolved around the true passion of art mixed with gaining confidence in ones own body. I absolutely love seeing my clients look at their new tattoo and feel so beautiful. The art of tattooing has truly transformed and transcended our minds with how we feel on body image. I want each of my future clients to know I will always be my 100% in our session, to have them leaving with a piece of art they are so proud to show off. Because of my extreme passion for art, I will always try my best to give you artistic advice while also taking into account the exact design you are wanting! I want all of my clients to experience a safe, warm, and fun tattoo experience!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would thoroughly plan out a whole itinerary of a range of things to do. I would take them down to the museum district and have them pick out any that seems intriguing to them. I find museums are a great way to learn something new! I would then show them all my favorite art exhibits across town since that is something I am very passionate about. For example, Smither Park or the Menil are my favorite places to go. I feel like Houston is known for their diverse, great tasting foods so picking that out will be the hardest part! Definitely depending on the type of food they want will determine which restaurant we choose to go. But since we are so diverse, we will have so many options! Next I would take them to all of my favorite thrift stores! They are so many hidden gems throughout Houston where you can find such great deals! Seeing live music is one of my absolutely favorite things to do, so I would find some concert at one of our great venues. Lastly would be a trip to one of the parks! I love Herman Park, the Botanical Gardens, and Houston Arboretum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout alllll of my peers in the industry. I find having a community of like-minded individuals truly helps you succeed so far. I was able to chat with all of them on learning new skills, different tips and tricks of the industry, work-life balance techniques, and how to keep sane with all the work. Also seeing your peers succeed is always so so inspiring! It motivates you to continue on doing the thing you love because you know you aren’t the only one dealing with the struggles as well.

I would also love to shout my sister, Cheryl. She was the first person to believe in me. She encouraged me to just try out tattooing when she knew how scared I was in the beginning. To this day, she is always recommending me to others, setting me up with events, and always giving me words of encouragement to continue on!

Website: https://eccentriccreature.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eccentric._.creature/

Image Credits
Self