Meet Serina “Twiggy” Malec | Owner/ Head Tattooist at Metamorphosis Tattoo

We had the good fortune of connecting with Serina “Twiggy” Malec and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Serina “Twiggy”, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own tattoo studio was a move towards creating a safe space with fair treatment that also allowed for work life balance. After working in many toxic work environments, I came to the conclusion that the best solution was to be the change I wanted to see. While the amount of female tattooists have grown drastically, 10 years ago it was a rarity and often a path littered with mistreatment and abuse by male tattooists. I think that my studio, and those of many other female tattooists like me, have created a path for anyone with the drive and ability to pursue this passion, to do so without hazing or harassment.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Tattooing is Magic. Tattooing can heal, it can help positive growth and improve one’s self confidence. I love being able to work with people directly in an artform that is so unique in that way.
Yes, of course I love making art just for fun or just because it looks cool, but the real gift of tattooing and what keeps me at it, is the people I am so lucky to meet and work with, that trust in me to apply a permanent transformation to their body.
That is why I named my studio Metamorphosis. It is so important to me to be able to provide a comfortable and welcoming space for this transformation.

Learning to tattoo was quite a long journey for me. I started in Arizona, having endured a 2 and half year apprenticeship under salty tattooers with egos who loved to haze and harass me on a daily basis. This treatment was common back then to apprentices, especially women. An extremely male dominated industry at that time, there was maybe only a handful, at most, of female tattooists in Arizona. I also went to college for 2 years on an honors scholarship, taking only art and business classes. I was forced to drop out when I realized that learning to tattoo was going to take all my time and focus.
After working at a series of both good and toxic studios, and taking a few months to travel the west coast and win some awards to build my confidence up, it was time to make my own tattoo studio. One where I could take all my experiences and work towards creating a little tattoo family. Now we have an awesome group of like-minded tattooists. Most have been with us for 3 years or more, which I view as one of my greatest successes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While this does specify the city… I must say that I am mostly in Colorado for the nature and when friends come to visit, I love to take them into the mountains on an adventure. Highlights include Estes Park and all its cute shops, the haunted Stanley hotel, and of course the Rocky Mountain National Park. Metamorphosis Tattoo, located in Lyons, the gateway to the Rockies, is the best place I could hope to be. We are close to so many lovely hiking spots, restaurants with locally sourced food, and small businesses in the heart of an independent and supportive community.
When I am in Denver though, Broadway is where its at, too many great small music venues, bars, and restaurants to name.
If we are headed down south, there are so many amazing hot springs to choose from, which is also an experience I love to share with friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
People often ask how I started tattooing or what got me into art. My response is the stars just aligned. I could not pin point just a single person, art, or class that made me who I am today. From my elementary school art teacher putting me in district art shows, to my middle school art teacher going above and beyond the curriculum with me, or my tattoo mentor, Falcon, who apprenticed me as a teenager. My mom, an artist herself, who first encouraged me to spend time drawing, has always been there for me with mental and emotional support. I have so many people to thank for where and who I am today. The encouragement and challenges along the way have helped grow my skills over a lifetime of practice. I am endlessly grateful to all my mentors and co-workers who have been a part of this journey.

Website: https://www.metamorphosistattoostudio.com

Instagram: @tattoometamorphosis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metamorphosistattooandpiercingstudio/

Other: @twiggytattooer (my IG)

Image Credits
Portraits and studio photos by Calvin Voong
Tattoos and Paintings by Serina “Twiggy” Malec