Victoria Kiwi Grigorieva is a talented tattoo artist from Moscow, Russia. She is the founder of the KIWI TATTOO creative workshop and the creator of a rapid-speed tattooing technique!
The average time to complete a tattoo is just 1.5 hours — and the finished works are always of the highest quality!
The number of fans of Victoria’s art is growing rapidly.
Finally, at this year’s Moscow International Tattoo Week 2016, we were able to watch her process live. And today, we’re excited to present an interview in which we asked Victoria about the most interesting aspects of her tattoo work.
Hello, Victoria! We’re always curious about how people discover the art of tattooing for themselves. Can you tell us about your path?
Hi there! My decision to take up tattooing was absolutely spontaneous — I don’t even remember when exactly it happened. One fine day, I just decided to become a tattoo artist. And off it went! I studied various styles and techniques, learned a lot about equipment, needles — everything I could find on the web at the time. I attended workshops, got tattooed by outstanding artists to see the process from within and to have the opportunity to ask specific questions like: “What does it take to be a tattooer?” Then I just practiced, made mistakes, identified the problems — and practiced again.
I see. Do you remember your first tattoo? What did you feel at that moment?
I think every artist remembers their first tattoo! As for me, it was a wolf howling at the moon. The tattoo was done in a strange style — it was fairly decent, but I can't even describe what I felt in that moment! It’s very scary because you’re facing the unknown. And as if that’s not enough, tattoos are permanent — so there’s also that fear for the person who trusted you to be their guinea pig.
In which styles did you work before finding your own path?
Like many beginner artists, I started working in every possible direction. I was ready to take on any work — from inscriptions to realistic tattoos. Of course, there were imperfections in my early work, but that experience greatly improved my tattooing skills and helped me grow as an artist. At that stage, I discovered which styles I truly liked — because you never know what you’re capable of until you try.
Absolutely! We saw you working at the convention, and we were amazed by your sprinter technique — your speed is incredible! How did you achieve this? Did it develop naturally, or is it a deliberate part of your style?
From the very beginning of my career, my goal was to create high-quality tattoos quickly. I’ve been consistently working on this aspect. The speed depends on many factors — from the arrangement of the workplace to the clip cord brand. One thing I can say for sure: you can’t make quick and high-quality tattoos with bad or average equipment. I’ve chosen the VladBlad Irons workshop for myself. I started with their equipment, I still use it now, and I have no plans to change. Some people say Vlad’s clip cords are too high-powered for tattooing — but that very power is what allows me to achieve such speed.
I see what you mean. At Moscow Tattoo Week 2016, you received the matryoshka (the nesting doll prize) for the best tattoo of the second day. Was that your first award? What did you feel when you heard your name?
Yes, it was my first and long-awaited award. I consider the "Best of Day" nomination to be the most open, honest, and prestigious, since these works are created right then and there. I can only describe my emotions as an endorphin explosion — laughter, tears, happiness… everything all at once! Even three days later, I still couldn’t believe that my work had received such recognition from experienced tattoo artists.
Congratulations — it was an amazing piece! Can you tell us more about your project, the KIWI TATTOO Creative Workshop? What kind of place is it? What led to its opening? What are your plans for future development?
Originally, the KIWI TATTOO Creative Workshop was meant to be a one-artist studio. I decided to create such a space because I wanted to grow individually as an artist. I was tired of noisy studios and large teams — I craved peace, quiet, and control over the environment. The KIWI TATTOO Creative Workshop is a space with separate, secluded, fully independent workrooms, where each artist is part of the team but still has their own area for focused, productive work — where they can play the music they like, free from distractions or the noise of other artists. Just the artist and their creativity.
Our future plans are fairly simple and straightforward. We see our workshop as a space that unites strong, ambitious artists with unique and diverse styles and approaches.
Victoria, thank you very much for the pleasant conversation! We look forward to seeing more of your amazing work and watching you reach new heights!
Thanks!
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