Kianna Harris Uses Tattooing to Make Permanent Connections In Her Community
At just 22 years old, Kianna Harris (KEE) has already taken the leap to follow her passions. Her journey to becoming a self-taught tattoo artist sparked when she stumbled upon a YouTube video of a girl tattooing herself. At that moment, Kianna thought, “I know I can do this design; if she can tattoo herself, I know I can tattoo myself too.” In her first year as a self-taught tattoo artist, Kianna welcomed clients into her home, but she now shares her talents with clients at VIP Bodies in Brooklyn, NY. She specializes in linework, fonts, minimalism, mandala, low realism, and custom tattoos and views tattoos as an opportunity to permanently have something you love on your body.
Kianna takes pride in being a well-rounded artist, and all she’s experienced influences her work today. Her previous experience in retail and child care taught her to communicate effectively and ensure that clients are comfortable. “I understand people on a deeper level, and I’m able to help them with more than just a tattoo. I use the customer service I learned and know how to handle situations where clients may have their children around during appointments.” She said.
Tattooing has opened up a new world of connections for Kianna. She’s been able to tattoo locals in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, to people from Italy and Hawaii.
Kianna told FOCUS Magazine:
“One of my favorite parts of being a tattoo artist is being able to connect with people. I’m an empath, so when it comes to my day-to-day experience, it’s always about helping someone. ”
Kianna’s Trinidadian background exposed her to various colors, artwork, music, and tattoos at an early age, and it’s clear that the unconditional love she’s felt from her parents has made her fearless in the pursuit of all arts. She said, “A lot of times, we have family or friends who want us to steer away from a creative path, but lucky I come from a Caribbean family that is open-minded.” She reflects on her childhood as a time when her creativity blossomed, especially in music and drawing. “I’ve been singing since I was 5, and when I was the little girl doodling, they were able to see that and appreciate my interest, and this also helped me see my own talent.”
When she was 13 years old, she learned about airbrush painting from her father, who specializes in airbrush body painting. Her mother’s keen attention to detail and cleanliness directly translates to Kianna’s attention to detail in all of her designs and cleanliness as a tattoo artist. Outside of tattooing, she's also found a love for music and she explains, “I am the Kianna that loves music, the Kianna that loves all forms of art, and the Kianna that will sit and be a therapist.” She said. She does not exist in a binary. While Kianna spends most of her time servicing others with her skills in tattooing, she also prioritizes making time for herself when she needs it so that she can guarantee her clients are recieving 100% when they choose her to be their tattoo artist.
Kianna Harris exudes the kind of confidence you can see from a mile away, and she encourages others to focus on what they love to do while deciding to pursue a specific career path. After the loss of a childhood friend, she committed to living her life to the fullest and shifted her perspective on what it means to truly chase your dreams. “I don’t want to be on my death bed saying, ‘I wish I did this or that’.. It needs to be done now. Even if there’s something you need to save up your money before doing, it can be done.” She said. “My confidence in being a tattoo artist had to come from realizing that while there are many tattoo shops in the area, there are not many tattoo artists who will be exactly like me. The uniqueness comes from your exact experience and what makes you who you are as an artist.” She continues to add, “I feel as though you shouldn’t do something if you’re not passionate about it. If you’re not passionate about it, it’s not the right career path, not your life path; it’s not what you should be doing.”
“The connection you would have with someone is more intimate when you sit with them, create a design, and follow through with that design. It’s amazing, and it’s even better seeing it be worn.”
All images provided by @tattmenext
Removing negative thoughts and remaining aligned with her purpose have allowed Kianna to see the beauty in her progress and appreciate the talents of other creatives around her. “Wanting to compete with others stops you from moving forward and gets you stuck in negative thoughts like quicksand,” Kianna said.
The Trinidadian-American artist continues to expand her knowledge about tattoos through thorough research about the origins and meanings in every culture. This year, she started reading The World of Tattoo by M. Hesselt van Dinter, a book that describes the history of tattoo practices meaning behind them. Her research has reminded her of the value of reading and learning information outside a Google search and has inspired her to interview others who have tattoos to continue telling their stories. KEE is humbled to be a part of the history of tattooing and hopes to continue honoring the tradition by showing that tattoos tell a larger story outside of negative stereotypes.
