Artist Feature: Ajay Resha

Ajay Resha is a well-rounded artist out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. From bold black and grey designs to delicate watercolor style tattoos, Ajay is ready to handle any design from conception to skin. Each design is drawn specifically for his client, “ensuring that each tattoo is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece” (per his website). With sixteen (16) years of professional tattoo experience, Ajay hasn’t met a tattoo he can’t knock out brilliantly. In fact, our Best Ink – Black and Grey Winner this year was one of Ajay’s tattoos that he freehanded on Heather DeLaurentis.

Making Ajay even more impressive, as his client you get a choice: a machine tattoo or a hand poke piece. He is just as proficient with ancient tattoo methods as he is modern ones. The three designs on the top of the next page were all meticulously hand poked by Ajay. Sharing his hand poked mandala flower piece with us, Ajay says: “It actually hurts less, heals faster, and colors heal more vivid again due to the lack of trauma caused; it takes way less pokes to get the ink in.” It’s rare to find an artist so knowledgeable and proficient in both hand poke and modern machine tattoos, making Ajay a true jack-of-all-trades.

Currently, Ajay tattoos at The Ink Spell Tattoo, which is a private tattoo parlor in Colorado Springs. Open daily, they promise to bring your vision to life whether it’s your first or hundredth tattoo.

We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that Ajay is a proud member of the Queer Community. As an openly gay trans man, Ajay’s journey to becoming a tattoo artist wasn’t easy. “I really had to pave my own path. I started transitioning the same year I started professionally tattooing and it was hard to find an accepting shop along with clients outside the LGBTQ community. Now I tattoo everyone, not just my community, and have such a great client-base I’m able to work in a private studio setting.”

Thank you so much for sharing and trusting us with your story. Your talent is undeniable, your care for your clients is admirable, and your perseverance and story is inspirational. If anyone is ever visiting Colorado, be sure to schedule a consult and session with Ajay!