Kelly Rico, the Mexican artist behind ‘Mosquito Costume’ in Guadalajara, is not just a tattoo artist; he’s an illustrator who found a profound and transformative discipline in tattooing. With years of experience in both fields, Rico’s work stands out for its distinctive “old-fashioned charm” and a unique approach that embraces what he calls “organized chaos.” In this interview, we delve into the mind of Kelly Rico to understand the primordial flame that ignited his creativity, the influences that shape his chaotic yet harmonious designs, and the philosophy behind his captivating tattoo art.
Tattoo by Kelly Rico, showcasing his distinctive style with raw textures and dynamic composition, reflecting a sense of organized chaos.
From Illustration to Tattooing: A Natural Disaster of Discipline
Kelly Rico sees tattooing as a “natural disaster” that reshaped his artistic approach. While he had been illustrating for over 18 years before picking up a tattoo machine in 2011, it was tattooing that truly revolutionized his mindset and skill set. For Rico, drawing skills are just the foundation. The real mastery lies in the harmonious execution of a tattoo, where the artist must constantly evolve and refine their technique to match their growing drawing prowess. This constant striving for balance and improvement is central to his artistic philosophy.
Detailed tattoo artwork by Kelly Rico, emphasizing the balance between precise lines and deliberately imperfect textures, a hallmark of chaos tattoo artistry.
The Primordial Flame: Discipline as an Art Form
What drives such dedication? For Kelly Rico, it’s about authenticity and discipline. He believes in being true to oneself as a producer, breaking free from emotional constraints to achieve excellence. Discipline, for Rico, is not just a means to an end; it’s an art form in itself. It’s the tool that allows him to realize his privileged position as an artist and to feel dignified about the time and effort he invests in his craft. This disciplined approach allows him to channel his creative energy into producing tattoos that resonate with a raw, unfiltered aesthetic, characteristic of Chaos Tattoo designs.
“Balance between who you really are and what you think.”
This balance is key. It’s about aligning inner self with artistic expression, using discipline to bridge the gap between concept and creation.
Kelly Rico's tattoo highlighting the raw and handmade feel, embodying the essence of chaos tattoo with its unconventional yet deliberate design.
Family and Friends: The Unsung Teachers of Tattoo Art
Unconventionally, Kelly Rico credits his family, especially his wife, as his most important teachers in his tattoo journey. Entering the tattoo industry with a “hermetic” approach, he found guidance and support within his close circle. His wife not only encouraged him to become a tattooer but also taught him about love – a crucial element in his artistic development.
“I mean love is to wish to be loved, and when you try to create something without something to offer, even a laugh is hard to get!”
Love, in Rico’s view, is about giving and offering something valuable. This philosophy extends to his art; he strives to offer meaningful and impactful tattoos to his clients. His friends, who offered their skin for practice, also played a vital role in his early career. This support system of loved ones remains his most cherished influence and continues to shape his artistic path.
A tattoo by Kelly Rico demonstrating the influence of loved ones through its emotive and personal style, reflecting the supportive environment that nurtured his chaos tattoo artistry.
Kelly Rico's artwork showing the importance of compromise and time, learned from his family and friends, in achieving the intricate details of chaos tattoos.
Defining the “Old-Fashioned Charm” of Chaos Tattoos
Kelly Rico’s tattoos and illustrations possess a distinctive “old-fashioned charm.” He describes his approach as intentionally revealing both his strengths and weaknesses in his art. He doesn’t aim to hide imperfections but rather emphasizes them to create a “medieval craft and raw composition” feel. This deliberate rawness is a core element of what could be termed “chaos tattoo.” It’s about embracing the handmade and primitive aspects of human creation, resulting in textures that are rich and visually compelling.
Close-up of Kelly Rico's tattoo work, revealing the raw textures and medieval-inspired craftsmanship that define his unique style of chaos tattoo.
Another example of Kelly Rico's tattoo art, showcasing the "old-fashioned charm" and deliberate imperfections that contribute to the chaos tattoo aesthetic.
Kelly Rico's tattoo art, highlighting the handmade and primitive feel, key characteristics of the chaos tattoo style he embodies.
Rico believes that constantly chasing new styles and ideas is less important than focusing on technique. Art, in his view, is about reinterpreting and recycling existing concepts, giving them a fresh perspective in a new context. It’s about finding that “special spark” to make something valuable, even when using familiar themes. This approach resonates with the chaos tattoo movement, which often reinterprets classic tattoo motifs with a raw and unconventional twist.
Kelly Rico's tattoo demonstrating the reinterpretation of classic themes with a unique and raw approach, characteristic of chaos tattoo artistry.
Technique Over Ideas: Embracing the Body in Tattooing
Rico made a conscious decision to shift his focus from competing with ideas to perfecting his technique and utilizing his body in the tattooing process. This shift was transformative. He realized that tattoo artists often adhere to similar technical standards, aiming for machine-like precision. However, Rico sought to break free from these constraints, comparing it to playing a guitar without movement or expression.
Tattoo by Kelly Rico, exemplifying the dynamic technique and bodily expression he incorporates into his chaos tattoo process.
“Over time I realized that this decision made me start from the scratch because my technique just follows my own rules with my own tools.”
By developing his unique technique, Rico started anew. He streamlined his process, using fewer materials, reducing waste, and employing both hands for increased stamina. Working “dry” is another aspect of his technique, which he believes is gentler on the skin. This hands-on, raw approach to tattooing further defines his interpretation of chaos tattoo.
Kelly Rico's tattoo showcasing the "dry" technique and raw finish, contributing to the distinctive look of his chaos tattoo style.
Nature and Reality: Influences Behind the Chaos
Nature and reality are the primary influences that have shaped Kelly Rico’s distinctive style. He actively seeks to move away from mechanical and digital aesthetics, aiming to replicate the natural behavior of materials like ink and gravity. This pursuit of naturalism is central to creating the “medieval crafting and wildness” that characterizes his work. The beauty of accidents, organized chaos, natural patterns, and abstract thoughts all play crucial roles in his artistic method. These elements are not just influences; they are integral components of his chaos tattoo philosophy.
Kelly Rico's tattoo inspired by nature and reality, embodying the wildness and organic feel that are central to his chaos tattoo creations.
Rejecting Allegory: Science and Beauty in Art
When asked about influences from tarot cards or ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Rico dismisses them. He emphasizes that his work is rooted in “nature, science and beauty,” not in religious or allegorical themes. While he respects Lewis Carroll’s artistry, he sees theological allegories in works like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ – something he actively avoids.
Kelly Rico's tattoo demonstrating a focus on science and natural beauty, moving away from religious or allegorical themes in his chaos tattoo work.
Another example of Kelly Rico's tattoo art emphasizing natural elements and scientific inspiration, key aspects of his unique chaos tattoo approach.
Kelly Rico's tattoo showcasing a connection to nature and scientific themes, reflecting his artistic rejection of religious allegories in chaos tattoo design.
Rico expresses a strong aversion to religion, stemming from childhood trauma related to the “cosmogony of torture and control” associated with religious institutions. This personal history informs his artistic choices, leading him to consciously avoid religious themes in his work, focusing instead on the tangible and observable world. Even when he has created tattoos with religious iconography, he considers it an unusual departure from his core artistic values.
Kelly Rico's tattoo, a rare example of religious iconography in his work, highlighting his general avoidance of such themes in his chaos tattoo style due to personal beliefs.
‘Mosquito Costume’: A Haven of Calm in Guadalajara
‘Mosquito Costume’ began as Kelly Rico’s artistic signature before evolving into the name of his private studio in Guadalajara. He started tattooing in Guadalajara in 2011, but the studio adopted the name ‘Mosquito Costume’ around 2015 or 2016.
Exterior shot of Mosquito Costume studio, representing the calm and beautiful environment Kelly Rico has created for his chaos tattoo practice in Guadalajara.
Located in a peaceful area of Zapopan, ‘Mosquito Costume’ is an apartment studio on the top floor of a building. It’s a collaborative space shared by Kelly Rico and his friend Mars (IG: @mosquito.costume). The studio is characterized by its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with jazz music and movies setting a chill backdrop for tattoo sessions. This calm environment contrasts with the “chaos” in his tattoo style, creating an interesting duality.
Interior of Mosquito Costume studio, depicting the chill and calm atmosphere where Kelly Rico creates his organized chaos tattoos.
Booking and the Journey Ahead
Booking a session with Kelly Rico is streamlined thanks to his wife, Angie, who acts as his assistant and manager. She efficiently handles inquiries, quotes, and bookings, making the initial steps quick and easy. Wait times for sessions can vary depending on Rico’s travel schedule. He frequently tours internationally, with upcoming trips to Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto, and travels within Mexico. While not actively seeking convention appearances, he remains open to the possibility in the future. His global travels and busy schedule are a testament to the demand for his unique chaos tattoo style.
Kelly Rico's tattoo showcasing the global appeal of his art, attracting clients and guest spot opportunities worldwide for his chaos tattoo style.
Lasting Words: Embrace Ignorance and Contemplation
Kelly Rico’s parting words encapsulate his artistic philosophy:
“If you are interested in excellence you must accept the ignorance, try to get the deep contemplation, don’t try to skip mistakes and don’t be slave of your emotions when you try to make art.”
He emphasizes the importance of embracing ignorance as a starting point for learning, engaging in deep contemplation, accepting mistakes as part of the process, and maintaining emotional detachment during artistic creation. Rico acknowledges that his success is a result of the support and love from his family and friends, who have provided him with the time and space to pursue his dreams. This collaborative and supportive environment has been crucial in allowing him to develop and share his unique vision of chaos tattoo art with the world.
Kelly Rico tattoo embodying his philosophy of embracing ignorance and contemplation, fundamental to his approach to chaos tattoo artistry.
Another tattoo by Kelly Rico, reflecting his belief in not skipping mistakes and learning from the imperfections in chaos tattoo creation.
Kelly Rico's tattoo, a testament to his artistic journey and the support of loved ones, resulting in the unique and sought-after chaos tattoo style.
Final example of Kelly Rico's tattoo work, summarizing the essence of chaos tattoo and his distinctive artistic identity.
Follow Kelly Rico on Instagram: @kellyricotattoo
Follow ‘Mosquito Costume’ tattoo studio on Instagram: @mosquito.costume
