I’ve been a huge admirer of Leo Zulueta for a long time. I first saw his work in 1982’s Tattoo Time #1: New Tribalism, and I was hooked. My pal Mike gave me a copy of his Borneo designs book a while after that. Seeing examples of his work in magazines over the years, and then the segment devoted to him in Modern Primitives cemented it all.
My friend Anthony Veilleux went down to LA back in 1993 and worked at his shop for a fortnight. Later Anthony turned one of the pieces of flash that Leo and Alex Pacheco had collaborated on into a 3D version.
I finally got to meet him at the 2002 Northern Ink Xposure, and really enjoyed chatting with him.
The next year he came down to the shop for a guest stint. Super fun to hang out with him and his wife Dianne Mansfield. Getting to see all of his portfolios and photo albums was really inspiring.
My birthday happened to fall during the time he was here, so he offered to do a tattoo for my birthday. I had a folder full of designs I had done, so I just let him pick one he wanted to do.
Great fun. After hanging out with him for a week, I jotted down this little poem about him.
(Leo also appeared on an episode of the terrific, but far too short lived show Tattoo Wars.
Two excerpts.
About the only tattoo magazine I ever bother with any more is Tattoo Artist magazine. While you need a subscription to read the whole article, it does show a few pictures.
http://www.tattooartistmagazine.com/issue6/leozulueta.html)
http://www.tattooartistmagazine.com/issue6/leozulueta.html)
Leo Zulueta is a wee Filipino
but has the power of El Nino
from a young age he had an interest in body arts
but felt there had to be more than roses and hearts
when he was a young punk
he didn’t go for that old junk
so he began to study and draw
but his talent was still raw
he was tutored by Don Ed Hardy
who wouldn’t tolerate him being tardy
got mad when he came in inebriated
and praised him when he created
“go forth and learn Leo
about the art of Borneo
study the designs of Samoa and Fiji
the tattoos of Tahiti and Hawaii”
his efforts anything but halfassed
he realized the future lay in the past
when they put together “New Tribalism”
did they realize it would unleash revivalism
he brought to prominence a style
that had been dormant for a while
did what many folks thought unviable
the reemergence of an idea named tribal
his awesome work at Black Wave
made him many peoples fave
but has the power of El Nino
from a young age he had an interest in body arts
but felt there had to be more than roses and hearts
when he was a young punk
he didn’t go for that old junk
so he began to study and draw
but his talent was still raw
he was tutored by Don Ed Hardy
who wouldn’t tolerate him being tardy
got mad when he came in inebriated
and praised him when he created
“go forth and learn Leo
about the art of Borneo
study the designs of Samoa and Fiji
the tattoos of Tahiti and Hawaii”
his efforts anything but halfassed
he realized the future lay in the past
when they put together “New Tribalism”
did they realize it would unleash revivalism
he brought to prominence a style
that had been dormant for a while
did what many folks thought unviable
the reemergence of an idea named tribal
his awesome work at Black Wave
made him many peoples fave
“we saw that work and something overcame us”
everyone from the unknown to the famous
from rockstar to office clerk
all wanted some of his fine work
including Motley Crues Tommy Lee
who he’d just as soon never again see
he’s one of the worlds great tattooers
one of that scenes shakers and doers
he knows this art has survived the ages
because it contains the wisdom of the sages
carefully etching in thick black lines
he grasps these are timeless designs
he really values the negative space
and it’s contribution to flow and pace
putting in shapes that are bold
because he knows they’ll hold
when he gets into the groove
his needles deftly move
he tattoos very gently
like a ride in a fancy Bentley
he makes it feel like a ritual
so nice it could become habitual
his library is a bibliophiles cornucopia
for lovers of smut it’s a porn utopia
his sartorial style is really tip top
everyone from the unknown to the famous
from rockstar to office clerk
all wanted some of his fine work
including Motley Crues Tommy Lee
who he’d just as soon never again see
he’s one of the worlds great tattooers
one of that scenes shakers and doers
he knows this art has survived the ages
because it contains the wisdom of the sages
carefully etching in thick black lines
he grasps these are timeless designs
he really values the negative space
and it’s contribution to flow and pace
putting in shapes that are bold
because he knows they’ll hold
when he gets into the groove
his needles deftly move
he tattoos very gently
like a ride in a fancy Bentley
he makes it feel like a ritual
so nice it could become habitual
his library is a bibliophiles cornucopia
for lovers of smut it’s a porn utopia
his sartorial style is really tip top
dapper even when wearing flip flops
scooting past on his long board
with all the grace of a regal lord
scooting past on his long board
with all the grace of a regal lord
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