Ink, Clay, and the Art of Transformation: The Vision of Valeriia Puhach

How Tattooing and Ceramics Intersect in a Unique Artistic Journey

For Valeriia Puhach, art is not bound by a single medium—it flows seamlessly between tattooing, ceramics, and self-expression. Whether it’s the fluid lines of a freehand tattoo or the imperfect yet intentional shapes of her ceramic pieces, Valeriia sees both as ways of capturing emotion, transformation, and identity.

As a tattoo artist and ceramicist based in Los Angeles, her journey into the arts began long before she picked up a tattoo machine. It started in Ukraine, where she studied academic art and architecture, disciplines that taught her about composition, structure, and the deep relationship between form and space.

From Clay to Tattoos: The Evolution of an Artist

Valeriia’s artistic path was shaped by her education at the Donbas National Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, where she was introduced to the principles of classical art, including painting, sculpture, and architectural design. During her studies, she encountered clay, and something about the material spoke to her on a deep level.

“The feeling of creating a form with your hands is unspeakable,” she recalls. “Clay is raw, organic, and responsive. You shape it, but it also shapes you in return. It’s flexible, yet strong—just like the human body.”

At the time, she didn’t yet know that her path would lead to tattooing. But the lessons she learned in composition, balance, and form became the foundation for her career as a tattoo artist.

When she discovered tattooing, she was drawn to it instantly. Unlike working on a canvas or a block of clay, tattooing was dynamic—it involved collaborating with a living, breathing form, shaping an image that flows with the body’s natural movements. Over time, she developed a passion for color theory, freehand composition, and the unique tattoos interact with skin.

“I love creating compositions directly on the body, without stencils, to feel how they naturally flow with the person’s shape. Every body is unique, and the art should complement it, not fight against it.”

Yet, even as she became immersed in tattooing, she felt something was missing—the tactile sensation of creating a physical form with her hands. That longing led her back to ceramics, where she began experimenting with a new project: a ceramic collection that embodies the essence of tattoos.

The Collection: Tattoos on Porcelain Bodies

Valeriia’s ceramic collection is a reflection of her love for tattooing, but instead of working with skin, she works with clay.

Each piece is created using deep blue ink, inspired by classic Chinese porcelain, but instead of traditional motifs, the designs mimic tattoos—etched onto the ceramic as if the vases and plates were human bodies. The collection celebrates the idea that both skin and clay are flexible yet strong, imperfect yet beautiful.

“The collection represents the connection between tattooing and sculpture. Clay and skin both hold stories. They change, they age, they carry meaning. And both can be used as a canvas for self-expression.”

Each piece in the collection tells its own symbolic story:

The Dream Garden

A large vase adorned with two serpents intertwined with chrysanthemum flowers. One snake has just captured a butterfly, while another butterfly remains untouched on the second serpent.

The vase’s handles are decorated with large piercing earrings, a tribute to modern tattoo culture and body modification.

“This piece reflects the duality of life—the captured and the free, the choices we make and the ones we leave behind.”

Poisoned Blade

A ceramic plate illustrating a snake coiling around a blade poised to strike it. Instead of succumbing, the snake has conquered the blade and is ready to attack with its venom.

“It’s about survival. About facing the things that try to cut us down and overcoming them, using our own strength and resilience.”

Uroboros

A small vase featuring a snake biting its own tail, forming the ancient symbol of the uroboros—representing infinite cycles, self-destruction, and rebirth. The vase’s handles are looped with a continuous chain, further emphasizing the unbreakable loop of actions and consequences.

“Sometimes, we hurt ourselves without even realizing it. This piece is about those hidden cycles and the awareness we need to break free from them.”

The Holy Thorns

A footed vase with a snake winding around a crown of thorns, evoking spirituality, resilience, and sacrifice. The raised form gives it a sacred, altar-like presence.

Pain and beauty coexist, just like in life. The things that wound us also shape us, making us stronger and more defined.

Tattooing, Ceramics, and the Art of Self-Expression

For Valeriia, this collection is not just about merging ceramics with tattoo culture—it’s about proving that art is everywhere.

“People often think they have to choose one form of art, but that’s not true. You can express yourself in any possible way. Tattooing, sculpting, painting—it’s all connected. It’s about finding the medium that speaks to you.”

Her work reminds us that tattoos are not just ink on skin, and ceramics are not just clay—they are stories, emotions, and identities captured in form.

Through her journey from academic art to tattooing, and now ceramics, Valeriia continues to explore the many ways that art interacts with the human body. Just like ink and clay, we are all works in progress—ever-changing, beautifully imperfect, and endlessly expressive.

Mastering the Art: A Lifelong Evolution

Valeriia Puhach is not just a tattoo artist—she is a relentless explorer of art and technique. Always seeking new knowledge and refining her craft, she pushes the limits of body art, transforming skin into a living canvas of meaning and beauty.

Her expertise goes beyond tattooing; she understands how to work with scars, create seamless cover-ups, and design compositions that flow naturally with the body’s form. Whether she’s helping someone reclaim their skin or reinventing an old tattoo, her work is about more than ink—it’s about transformation, storytelling, and mastery.

At the same time, she continues to explore new artistic mediums, merging tattoo aesthetics with ceramics, painting, and beyond. Her commitment to mastering both traditional and contemporary techniques allows her to evolve not only as a tattoo artist but as a visionary creator whose art transcends a single discipline.

“A true artist never stops learning,” Valeriia says. “Tattooing is a lifelong journey—there is always a new technique to perfect, a new challenge to take on, and a new way to express ideas through the body.”

With her deep artistic knowledge, fearless creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence, Valeriia Puhach stands as a leading figure in modern tattooing—an artist who is always growing, always innovating, and always pushing the art form forward.

Follow Valeriia’s journey on Instagram: @valeriatattooing

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