Lilian Raya is a well-known name in the tattoo industry, and any true enthusiast will likely recognize her work at first glance. Her portfolio reveals a vivid world of female characters — beautiful, powerful, and radiant. Elements of Mexican culture run through nearly every tattoo, seamlessly woven into each composition, while her refined use of color stands out as one of the defining features of her work.
Over the years, Lilian has received numerous awards, including Best Color at Viva la Tinta in Mexico, Best New Styles in Mexico City, and a Best of Day placement in Barcelona. She has also taken part in major international conventions such as Barcelona, Paris, and Gods of Ink, while expanding her role in the industry through judging, education, and collaborations with leading brands.
In this interview, one of Mexico’s most recognized tattoo artists, Lilian Raya, talks about how the distinctive world of her tattoos came to life, the role Mexican culture plays in her work, and shares insights into her professional journey.
Lilian, we’re big fans of your work. Could you tell us a bit about yourself — where you’re from and how your journey into tattooing began?
— I’m from Mexico City. I started tattooing 10 years ago. I’m a self-taught tattoo artist, and I began my journey when my college suggested I should become a tattoo artist because I was very good at art. When I did my first tattoo on a friend in a living room, I didn’t even have tattoos on my own body, but I fell in love from the very first piece that I ever did. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to become a professional tattoo artist, and I wanted to pursue tattooing as a full-time career.
We actually featured your work back in 2020, and even then you were already a well-established artist. How have your style and characters evolved over the years?
— I think my art has evolved at the same time that I’ve also evolved as a person and as a professional. I feel my technique has improved so much. Also, the dimension and the colors that I use on my characters and my designs are much more complex. My compositions have become much more dynamic, and now I try to do all my designs based on the part of the body that I’m going to tattoo, so it flows elegantly and effortlessly.
I’m trying now to do much bigger pieces, like full sleeves on arms and legs, and also more full backs. The goal is to become an artist who works on full body projects, but I feel that my journey as a tattoo artist is a journey that will always be full of learning and constant improvement. There’s always so much more to learn, no matter how experienced you are.
Your style is a mix of neo-traditional and anime. How did you arrive at this combination, and why did it become your main direction?
— It’s because I love neo-traditional as a style. I even have traditional tattoos on most of my own body. But I feel that doing a little bit more pop-focused work with a lot of color is more fun for me to do and to work with as an artist. It also mixes more of my personality and the things that I like.
I also feel it is a style that you can always evolve into different directions and reach different types of audience. I think diversity in your style as a tattoo artist always gives you much more to learn than only focusing on one single style at a time. I want to explore more ornamental styles, and also more black and grey, which I love to do but not a lot of people ask for.
How has Mexican culture and your artistic environment influenced your work?
— I think my culture is pretty much everything represented in my style. Mexican culture, folklore, cities, and even food are full of bright colors, contrasts, and very fun and vibrant compositions.
Also, I feel that Latinos in general always have a very fun approach to life and art. We are very hard-working people, and we are very passionate about everything we do and feel, and it shows through our art. I’m a very proud Mexican and Latina woman, and I hope to inspire my community to always stick to their roots, be proud of their heritage, and show it through their creations.
Your tattoos show a strong understanding of color and composition. Which skills or knowledge had the biggest impact on your growth as an artist?
— I think color theory has just been a constant in my life since I started drawing and painting when I was very little. I know how colors work and combine with each other using different materials and techniques, so working with tattoo ink has just become a natural process for me. Tattooing is just another type of canvas and another type of color.
If you have a good base in painting, drawing, and sketching, I think you can become a really good tattoo artist. But I really think that someone who wants to become an artist of any kind should have at least an idea of how color theory works.
Also, studying a lot of art, studying art history, and constantly going to museums has helped me train my eye to look for shapes, contrast, light, and shadows in all my compositions. Overall, it’s not just one skill or one piece of knowledge, but constant training of your mind and learning to notice everything that can help you with your creations.
Your female characters are both soft and powerful — there’s a clear sense of respect and attention to femininity. Was this a conscious choice or something that developed naturally over time?
— I think it was natural because I’ve always loved doing female characters since I was very young, even before becoming a tattoo artist. I feel women always have a strong sense of femininity, and our world is much more different and sensitive compared to men’s, and it always shows in our art.
I think I also consciously portray women as strong, because I feel women are not just beautiful, but we also have the right to feel many emotions as human beings — like rage, sadness, and a desire for power. So I try to make my characters feel like they have their own personality and express a very specific emotion.
I also love doing female characters because it’s a self-portrait of different feelings that I have and different phases I go through as a woman.
Can you share some of your favorite projects from recent years? Are there any client stories that stayed with you?
— Definitely, my favorite project has been the full back that I did two years ago. That project really raised the bar for my quality and gave me motivation to do much bigger projects.
Something that stayed with me about that client is that I made her very first tattoo, which gave her so much more confidence in herself and her body that she decided she wanted me to do her full back. After getting that piece, she became a much more confident woman and started to love her body so much more. Even during the sessions, I could see the change in her attitude and confidence getting better each time we met. It was very beautiful to see how much a tattoo can affect a person’s confidence and self-love.
I’m currently doing a full leg sleeve in black, in a more neo-traditional/ornamental style, which is very different from what I’m used to doing, but also very exciting to explore. This is my client’s very first big tattoo, so having the trust of my clients for this kind of project is very fulfilling. It definitely makes me want to learn more and step out of my comfort zone through bigger projects.
You’ve participated in major international conventions and worked as a judge. What feels more interesting to you today — competing or evaluating others?
— Yes, I have been requested to judge industry leading events like Wild Tattoo Show in Namur, Belgium; México Tattoo Convention in México City, Lima Tattoo Convention in Perú, República Dominicana Tattoo Convention in Santiago, Dominican Republic and the Comic Ink in Santiago de Chile! This was an incredible experience for me to judge prestigious competitions like these because all of them were the biggest tattoo conventions in each country, and some of the most important ones when it comes to Latin American Tattoo Industry.
Judging tattoo competitions in those importante events is something I take immense pride in. It’s an honor to be recognized as an expert in an industry I’ve dedicated so much of myself to. These events bring together the top artists from around the world, with a quality level I’ve seen very few times during all my travels and visits to conventions, and being trusted to evaluate their work is both humbling and inspiring.
It’s very hard to decide between the most talented tattoo artists in national and international level, and I see it as a responsibility to uphold the highest standards while celebrating the creativity and skill that define our craft.
When you participate, you don’t get to see a lot of other works because you are focused on your own piece. But I feel that one of the best parts of conventions is being able to see the work of other artists."
How have international conventions shaped your perspective on the tattoo industry?
— I think every time I go to a big international convention, it humbles me about my work and my professional approach. There are so many different perspectives on tattooing as an art and as a business. Meeting artists from different countries, cultures, and social backgrounds always teaches you a lot.
It’s also very refreshing to learn about new technologies in the industry and stay updated. I think the only way to truly understand how big the industry is, is by attending large conventions. You get to see major tattoo brands, artists, and clients, and you meet people who can help you grow as a professional, as a person, and as a business.
You teach seminars in different countries. What do you aim to pass on to younger artists beyond technical skills?
— I think most of all, having a good work ethic and learning to always respect your clients is essential. Tattooing is something people carry for life, so we should treat our clients and our art with the same level of respect they deserve.
I also teach them to look beyond the business and technical side, and understand that loving what you do and having fun with it is what can make you obsessive and help you become a great artist.
Also, connecting with their inner child helps them find their style and something that makes them different. Authenticity is the best path you can follow as an artist.
How do you manage to balance tattooing, judging, and teaching? Do you still have enough time to work closely with clients?
— It is really hard, especially when you work by yourself, but it can be done if you organize yourself well. I think having a good relationship with your clients and achieving good results involves a lot of communication and respect for their ideas.
Most of my communication is digital, which makes life much easier. I also have a good booking system, since most of my clients travel. I’m the one answering messages, so I get to talk directly with them about their ideas without losing information. I always keep an open mind about their designs and try to sit down with them to understand what they want to represent.
How do you see your style evolving over the next five years?
— I definitely want to work on large-scale projects and eventually start doing full body suits. I also want to do more black and grey projects and maybe mix in more classical art and Art Nouveau into my style.
I want to create more ornamental and elegant compositions that flow better with the muscles and natural movement of the body. Overall, I want to keep working on bigger projects and exploring new styles that I can fuse with my own. I think there are no limits when it comes to creativity.
What has been the most challenging stage of your career — something people don’t usually talk about publicly?
— I think going through the sudden loss of my mother at the early stage of my tattoo career was the most challenging moment. It happened during my first international guest spot in Brazil. I remember taking only two weeks off and then returning to tattooing with a broken heart, but very focused on becoming one of the best tattoo artists in the world.
At that time, my only choice was either to quit because of the pain or to become stronger and work harder to fulfill my dreams and heal through something I loved. I also wanted to make my mom proud because she was the one who supported me the most.
That experience made me much stronger, not only as an artist but also as a person. It gave me resilience and showed me how art can help you heal in ways you cannot imagine.
Are there any directions outside of tattooing — such as painting, digital art, or collaborations — that you’re interested in exploring?
— When I first started studying graphic design and art, I was very focused on becoming a children’s book illustrator. That’s something I would like to explore in the future, even if just once.
I also love makeup, so maybe collaborating with a makeup brand that combines my love for tattooing and makeup would be really interesting — maybe creating an eyeshadow palette. I also want to explore painting more, and pottery as a hobby, without necessarily monetizing it.
Today you are one of the most recognizable tattoo artists from Mexico. What advice or message would you give to emerging tattoo artists?
— Don’t ever try to be like somebody else. Getting inspiration from everywhere is important, but always come back to yourself, your inner child, and what makes you happy. That is what makes you unique and authentic.
People connect much more when you are yourself and when you share a piece of your heart and soul through your art. Always be a student, never a master. Respect your clients, respect the craft, and learn about both the past and the future. Tattooing is a never-ending learning path.
And most of all: have fun and do what you love — that’s the most important thing.
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