Meet the Artists


“ There are two
types of people:
Those who
get tattooed,
and those who
admire them on
other people.
Award winning artist Manuel Vega, opened his shop, Custom Tattoo Company in May 1993. I specialize in black and grey work, portraits and photo realism. I love and respect the fine art of tattooing and practice the traditional ethics of passing on this beautiful art form to others.

I feel honored when people trust my artwork to their bodies . Bringing someone into this rite of passage humbles me in knowing that I was the one chosen to help change someone’s life forever.


The beginning of my arduous journey into the world of tattoo began at the age of 12. My uncle had just moved to town, and before opening his own shop, tattooed people out of my mom's kitchen. Shortly there after he opened Lynnwood Tattoo, where I would begin work at 14. I cut the grass, and cleaned the shop at nights. At 16 I started working the counter, answering phones, dealing with clientele, and to my dismay, still cleaning the shop. The whole while, I was finishing school, and constantly working on art, trying to ready myself for the coming years.

Finally at 17 I was offered my future, an apprenticeship. After a 2 year general apprenticeship under Richard Otten, and the rest of the artists I grew up around, constantly having to figure out how not to screw it up, or get fired, I began tattooing at the ripe old age of 19 in 2001. I stayed in Seattle for the next 4 years. Learning from, and probably bothering guest artists, and other artists in town, trying to improve. I found my niche in traditional Japanese, and Americana. I love working in those particular styles, something about them just clicks with me. They also are really conducive with my other outlets of art. Those being watercolor, acrylic, and occasionally pen and ink.

Then in the beginning of 2005, I made the move to Albuquerque. I worked for a shop in town for the first 2 years I was here. I learned a lot. But as it happened, we had to part ways.

January 2007, the guys at Custom Tattoo Co. opened their doors to me. It's been so nice to be at a full custom shop. I never have to do the same thing twice, which as you can imagine gets to be monotonous. So here I am now, come by and check it out, but be sure to make an appointment.


“... Learn Something New Everyday and Continue to Grow...”
“A Happy Customer is the Most Rewarding Thing to Me.
~ Mark Sullivan


For the
Serious Collector
Only