Born and raised in South Florida to Colombian immigrants, I’ve always been fascinated with art in different mediums. From ballet and piano lessons in my early childhood, to finding comfort in high school extracurriculars like marching band & yearbook, I knew I wanted to find a career that allowed me to be creative. The summer I turned 18, I got my first tattoo behind my parents back and later moved to New York to try my hand at art school, failing miserably; I came back to Florida after my first year. Eventually found my way to Gainesville in search of a degree, as most of us who come here do, but instead I fell in love with getting tattooed and the craft as a whole. It was like an A-HA! moment and I decided I was going to do whatever it took to become a tattoo artist. I started working reception at the oldest shop in Gainesville, and after a few years, I started my apprenticeship in September 2016. The first tattoo I did, I swear, felt like the beginning of the rest of my life 🤍 Like I had been searching all my life for the right medium…and sure enough, it found me. Fast forward to 2020, my partner Paul and I opened Oasis Tattoo Collective, our own space to create, tattoo and vibe with like-minded individuals. I will forever be grateful to my friends and family for supporting me continuously through this dream—my dad bought me my first tattoo machines off eBay! Most of all, I owe it all to my clients, who trust me with their ideas and their bodies. Without you, none of this is possible. I love tattooing more than most things in life and I thank you all for sharing this space with me.

Peace and love xx

Mari