Rising Stars: Meet Dinkc Galicia of Columbus Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dinkc Galicia

DINKC, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am an Illustrative Designer originally from Kansas City, specifically the Strawberry Hill neighborhood (THE DOTTE). As the child of Mexican immigrants, my parents’ aspiration was to provide a better life for themselves and their children. They worked tirelessly to help us pursue our dreams, and I never envisioned that I would be where I am today.

In 2012, I established my art brand, DINKC STUDIOS, while still a student at the Kansas City Art Institute. Over the past 12 years, I have cultivated my brand, gaining valuable experience in Kansas City before relocating to New York, Denver, Mexico, and exploring numerous other cities. My work is heavily influenced by classic cartoons, graffiti and street art, and the Día de los Muertos Mexican culture. It encompasses a variety of formats, including custom art, murals, merchandise, apparel, pop-ups, and gallery curation. I have successfully achieved every goal set within my artistic career, all while honoring my parents’ struggles, my family’s support, my Mexican heritage, and the blessings of my ancestors. This journey has motivated me to continuously push boundaries and expand my knowledge.

I am excited to share that I am now venturing into the world of tattooing, a topic I would like to discuss further today.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Entering a new artistic career presents its challenges, but I was fortunate to draw upon my extensive experience in the art field. Throughout my years in Kansas City and abroad, I had the privilege of working with several respected tattoo studios, each known for their unique strengths. After returning to Kansas City following a seven-year absence, I reconnected with a colleague and fellow artist, Tyler Moody, a seasoned tattoo professional with over 15 years of experience and the owner of two local studios: Surreal Tattoo on W 39th St and Tiger Alley X in Columbus Park.

In our conversations about the tattoo industry, Tyler offered me a full-time apprenticeship at his new shop. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn under his expert guidance and fully immerse myself in the craft. Over six months, I dedicated over 600 hours to the apprenticeship, completing more than 20 practice skins and 80 supervised tattoos, all while gaining insights into the operations of the shop. This experience was demanding, yet I thrived, relishing every moment of learning and growth. Shortly thereafter, I obtained full licensure as a tattoo artist and transitioned to Tiger Alley X.

While I embraced this new and exciting medium, I felt it was important to retain the art career I had built over the years. After discussing my vision with Tyler, we decided to merge our studios, combining tattoo artistry with other forms of creative expression. This collaboration allowed me to relocate my original DINKC STUDIOS from Strawberry Hill to the new shop, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and creative hub—what we affectionately refer to as a “tiny tattoo and art oasis.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work has always been characterized by a strong illustrative quality. I take pride in integrating the influences from my upbringing, particularly my Mexican culture, with a focus on Dia De Los Muertos imagery. I have fond memories of exploring old lowrider magazines that showcased remarkable Chicano artwork, along with graffiti zines and Saturday morning cartoons. These experiences have significantly shaped the themes within my artwork, especially my interest in character design.

I aspired to create a cartoon character that authentically represented my identity, which led to the development of DINKC, a Mexican sugar skull cartoon tagger that embodies my values. Over the past 12 years, I have cultivated this character and brand, and I felt it was a natural progression to adapt these illustrations into tattoo designs. I have reimagined several of my original pieces to offer as custom tattoos, including smaller tattoo flash designs.

Additionally, I have explored other elements of Mexican artistry, drawing inspiration from Charros, Aztecas, and calligraphy. My portfolio also includes custom replicas of original drawings and handwriting from loved ones, as well as some freestyle graffiti work. This transition into the tattoo medium allows me to express everything I am passionate about.

As I embark on this new venture, I am excited by the learning opportunities it presents and enjoy the process more with each passing day. I look forward to continuing my growth and providing new custom pieces for my clients. If you have any ideas or would like to collaborate, please feel free to reach out to schedule an appointment.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
As I mentioned before, My parents immigrated to this country from Mexico 43 years ago, facing the challenges of an unfamiliar language, culture, and environment. Despite these obstacles, they successfully integrated themselves while also sharing their own culture through their skills. Today, I recognize the importance of unity and support within our communities. This new venture in tattooing allows me to continue sharing my artistic expression and support others in various ways, whether it be through custom tattoos in memory of loved ones, designing logos for businesses, creating shirts for events, or inviting local vendors to collaborate with us. Each effort contributes to our shared community while staying rooted in my creative passions.

Currently, we are excited to have a diverse team of talented artists at Tiger Alley X, where we offer a wide range of services, including tattoos, cosmetic tattoos, microblading, merchandise, custom apparel, murals, illustrations, designs, live painting, laser engraving, and a variety of art workshops and events. If you have any creative needs, we would be delighted to assist you.

In addition to providing exceptional tattoo services, I am committed to supporting the growth of other small businesses. Through these initiatives, my goal is to inspire creativity while fostering a sense of community. To this end, we will launch a monthly event starting in May, held on the second Friday of every month, collaborating with neighboring businesses. Similar to community initiatives in areas like Crossroads, Strawberry Hill, and West Bottoms, we aim to create a vibrant hub for the arts in Columbus Park, showcasing local talent from Kansas City. These events will feature tattoos, art displays, merchandise, pop-up vendors, food, drinks, music, live painting, and more. If you are a local creative interested in participating, please reach out for further details.

At my core, I am and will always be an artist. I take great pride in expressing my culture and creativity in multiple forms. I am grateful for the growth of my art brand and the support I have received over the years from those who appreciate my work. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my tattoo mentor, Tyler, for believing in my vision and supporting my ideas. I look forward to further exploring the tattooing realm and expressing my artistry through new mediums while remaining committed to uplifting our community, as it is their support that has made this journey possible.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story and passion. I hope it serves as inspiration for you in your own pursuits.

and remember, to always give 110%—while 100% gets you noticed, it is that extra 10% that makes you unforgettable.
-DINKC

Pricing:

• All pricing is custom based on each individual piece

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.dinkc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoodinkc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinkcstudios
• Other: https://www.tigeralleyx.com/home.html