Meet Moon Raines | Body Modification Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Moon Raines and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Moon, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
What makes me happy is being creative and expressing myself, and I believe that creating art in any form provides joy in life. Through art I am able to express myself, whether it’s panting or piercing, I am able to create a positive impact in the world. Being a non-binary, person of color, in the art industry allows me to break from the norms of society and express myself in a way that allows me to be confident in who I am. Because of this I am able to provide a safe space for all in my piercing studio. And in doing so give those who are uncomfortable in their own skin a chance to be more confident and express themselves through their piercings. I love creating new piercing styles and designs for individuals that create a unique and personalized look. Seeing the joy I bring to people through my art is an amazing experience and one of the many reason that art makes me happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ever since I was a child I knew that I wanted to work in a tattoo shop, telling people that “I was going to be an artist”, and through hard-work and many obstacles, I proud to say that I’m living my dream. I’ve been piercing in a professional setting for five years now, and I am grateful to have my own space with Street Hate Tattoo. I started my piercing journey with a traditional apprenticeship, but this was challenging for me as it was a harsh and unwelcoming setting. However, this did push me to learn to pierce on my own. I learned a method of piercing known as free hand, which allows me to be more precise when piercing. I’ve also come to the realization that not everyone in the industry has your best interest in mind and that sometimes it better to take matters into your own hands. Another major obstacle that I found myself struggling with was finding a balancing between my passion of piercing with my previous corporate job. Before I took the leap to become a full time artist I worked at a funeral home with the aspiration of becoming a funeral director. However, I found working at a funeral home to be lifeless, stunting my creativity, and overall just not an environment in which I could thrive. So I left to become a full time artist, which was terrifying at first, and still is at time; but ultimately it was the right choice for me as it helped to improve my social anxiety and overall happiness. However, while I love being my own boss it does come with challenges of it’s own. Being a self-made artist means I have to fund everything myself from jewelry to tools and any other resources I may need in my day to day. But this has only further pushed me to be a more resilient independent artist. Becoming an independent artist was never and easy thing for me, I had to work for everything I have, and endured many hardship, and there were even times when I wanted to give it all up, but with the help of my loving partner, I pushed through and I’ve never been happier.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would first start off by taking my friend to VooDoo Doughnuts here in Denver. They have some of the most amazing treats I’ve ever had and a wide selection as well. Next we would stop by The Learned Lemur to look at all the oddities and art they have, since we both have a passion for art created from dead things. We would spend most of our time making jokes and creating fun memories filled with lots of photo taking, as Denver has many photogenic environments. Of course we would have to stop by Meow Wolf at some point, I love the bright colors and immersive art they have to offer. Lastly we have to check out some of Denver’s many music venues, some of the coolest venues I’ve been to are D3 Arts and The Crypt. Denver has an amazing and inclusive hardcore and punk scene.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shed light on an up and coming artist Xochipilli Mexica Also known as “the.hier.of.aztlan” on Instagram who dedicates his vision and craft to uplifting and giving a voice to the Denver Chicano community. Their art is heavily based around Aztec and Chicano culture that speaks on topics such as gentrification and police brutality and how it impacts people of color in today’s society. They have several art pieces and murals all along Denver and even in the capital. This person has been an inspiration to me and has pushed me to express myself in my own style.

Instagram: @piercedbypiseces @street_hate_tattoo

Facebook: Moon Raines

Other: Email- Piercedbypisces@gmail.com

Image Credits
Moon Raines – Street Hate Tattoo