Hi there!

Greetings, people of the internet! I’m Livia Michael and I am so stoked to be Scott Glazier’s newest apprentice at Speakeasy Tattoo in Los Angeles.

I’m originally from a small town called Boone in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Ever since I was young, I’ve been committed to the arts. Whether it was painting, sketching, making ceramics, taking dance lessons, or performing in musicals, I was always doing something creative. I studied Theatre Performance at Interlochen Arts Academy in northern Michigan, and from there I attended California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where I got my BFA in Acting. I studied Shakespeare, clowning, screen acting, and improvisation. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in these arts conservatories, as I was constantly surrounded by art and a diversity of ideas and experiences of others. Since my CalArts graduation, I’ve joined the acting unions of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television & Radio Artists) and AEA (Actor’s Equity Association), and had a variety of professional acting credits in commercials, voiceover, theatre and film.

Overall, I have a deep love and fascination with humans. I think that acting and tattooing are incredibly similar in that you have to be curious about others. Even though I’ve been working in the entertainment industry, I’ve remained connected to my love of visual arts. Sitting down to create visual art is incredibly therapeutic for me. I feel that when I paint or draw, I can exorcise a demon out of my mind or express something that transcends the plane of normal human communication. I am particularly drawn to creating art on flesh because it’s a medium in which I can express myself artistically in service of others. I am an empath and the tattoo medium allows me to utilize my art in a manner that is cathartic and meaningful for people. A tattooist can turn someone’s most traumatic stories or joyful memories into something beautiful that they can take with them everywhere and wear proudly. 

I have always been interested in tattooing. First, because I come from a family that has many tattoos that are meaningful and significant to them. There was never a tattoo taboo in my household. Everyone in my immediate family is adorned with art on their skin that reflects their own lived experiences. Second, I am a Jewish woman, and there is a very complex history interwoven with my people and tattoos. A practice that was once prohibited and viewed as wrong according to Jewish law, has since been embraced by most of the modern Jewish community following the atrocities of the Holocaust, as many survivors bore their concentration camp identification numbers tattooed on their forearms. What was made to be a dehumanization ritual by the Nazis has become a symbol of perseverance and hope against all odds. To perform and receive tattoos on my own terms as a Jew is a profound and meaningful thing. Tattooing is alchemy in a lot of ways. Being able to add beauty to this world in this capacity is an incredibly worthwhile vocation to me.  

During my time as an apprentice at Speakeasy so far, I have already learned a great deal, and I am so ready to delve even deeper into this art form. I am incredibly grateful to Scott and the team at Speakeasy Tattoo for welcoming me with open arms and showing me the ropes. Until next week….

-Livia