STAMP: Introduce yourself. What is something you want the world to know about you?
Miya: My name is Miya Bailey one of the founding members of a world wide art movement called “City of Ink” I’m a fine art painter, illustrator, writer, family man, film producer and professional tattoo artist for over 18 years now. Art is my passion and I have a strong drive for business and sharing my vision with the world. The whole goal is to live forever and die a legend.

STAMP: When did you become interested in art?
Miya: Artist are born. It’s a DNA trait passed on from genes in your family. So as soon as I could hold a pencil and draw on paper I was interested. In my book (Before I’m Gone: The Art & Life of Miya Bailey) I have an old drawing from 1979. I was only 4 years old. Art is my life. If it wasn’t for art I would be in the streets.

STAMP: As a painter, what is your preferred medium?
Miya: My favorite medium for painting has to be acrylic because it dry fast and I can fix mistakes right on the spot. Once I retire from tattooing I will move on to oils, and do more water color work, just need more time. Tattooing takes up most of my time. I stopped doing commission paintings. Since I have to be inspired by the clients idea when tattooing. I use painting as my escape from work and the tattoo business. It’s 100% my emotions and random thoughts in my mind. I don’t want my paintings being controlled.

STAMP: Did you study at an art school? If so which one and how was that experience?
Miya: If not, do you wish you did? I went to college. Met my business partners, Tuki Carter and Samba Sillah. We met at the Art Institute of Atlanta. We dropped out to become professional tattoo artists under master artist, Julia Alponsio. College was the best time of my life. I didn’t learn anything but I met Tuki and Samba and we help create a whole movement in art and urban tattooing.

STAMP: Make made you journey into tattooing?
Miya: How long have been tattooing? No one buys paintings in the projects and that where i was at the time. Tattoos wasn’t even popular in the black community in 92-93. I was reading about the rock band “Fishbone” and they all had dope tattoos. I was inspired, 18 years later I’m one of the most requested tattoo artists in the world. It’s an honor and a true blessings. Tattooing got me out the hood. And I hope it gets more people out the hood who’s not afraid of hard work and a lifestyle change.

STAMP: How was the transition from a painter to a tattooist?
Miya: Did you have an apprenticeship or learned on your own? I got an apprenticeship, being trained by 3 people Julia, Freddy, and Bash formerly of West End Tattoo. I trained there for 3 years before I opened my first tattoo shop in 1997. It was a lot of hard work. Cleaning tubes, learning the craft of needles, mopping floors, running errands for the older artists. It was a major lifestyle change for me.

STAMP: You seem to be the urban celebrity? How do you remain humble with such a huge following?
Miya: To be honest I can’t see myself in that way at all. In my eyes I’m doing what i’m suppose to do as a MAN. I work everyday to open doors for my family. I don’t want to see my family struggle so that drives me everyday. Since I’m always working I have zero social life right now..so I don’t be our much.. I have no clue what people think or feel about me. I guess that keeps me humble. Because I just feel like i’m just working like the next man or woman is. I remember when I had to do $25 names making 50% so that’s $25 per tattoo. That’s not real money at all so I had to learn marketing and business to increase the value of my name as an artist. I just want a better life for my family by any means. And I guess art is the way for me.

STAMP: You are quite the businessman as well. When did you become a shop owner?
Miya: And what made you fuse a gallery with the shop? I learn business through trial & error. It wasn’t over night. I opened my first shop in 1997 I was young and still in the streets. I had one foot in and one foot out. I had to do a lot of growing up and I knew the streets was going to kill me so I gave it all up and started focusing only on my art career. I notice most tattoo shops had the same vibe. Walls covered in tattoo flash (pre made tattoo designs you pick from) since my family of artist only do freehand custom tattooing and they are also all painters the art gallery was the first choice then tattooing. The people liked it. So we ran with it. The only difference in painting and tattooing is tattooing is way harder. You don’t even know if your really good until 10 years down the line when you see an old tattoo you did 10 or more years later.

STAMP: I have noticed your style of tattooing, and recently art, being plagiarized. How does that feel? Do you take it as a compliment or feel it takes away from your livelihood as an artist?
Miya: I created a new style of tattooing for other artists to use. I want the style to live longer than I do. As long as I’m given credit for what I have created I’m a happy name. So use my style but do not copy any of my tattoos. Those people paid for custom work. It suppose to be one of a kind. I see all these low quality bootleg MB originals they look really bad. But at the sametime if shows you who really respect you and your art. Helps me weedout the people I’m not suppose to tattoo I guess. If I was the old me I would have easily ran up in their tattoo shop and whipped ass. The more you teach people about what real tattooing is the less people will be tricked by these dudes posing as tattooers. Those people never paid dues or got professionally trained in line work, shading, color, or health safety. They are killing people and making it hard for real trained artist because the people are new to the tattoo culture and easily hustled & confused.

STAMP: Can you remember the first piece you ever did and what inspired you to do it?
Miya: My first tattoo was an “anhk” in 92-93. I’ve been cursed ever since. This is wayyy before Erykah Badu but when she came out it got even worse. I can’t say I was the first one to tattoo an ankh but no one can argue I started that tattoo trend and make it popular in art.

STAMP: Can you tell any interesting stories about specific pieces, artists, or projects that you’ve worked on?
Miya: I’m working on 5 projects right now my book about my art career and life stories called “Before I’m Gone: The Art & Life of Miya Bailey” we are working on an April book release & tour now. I’m also working on a movie called “Color Outside the Lines” about the struggles of professional trained black tattoo artists and how the people overlook them to go to untrained artist with cheaper prices. And how it affects the lives of these artists. I want to she’s light on other black artist. Sometimes I feel like token black guy in the tattoo industry. There are lots of amazing artists out there not just me and Tuki. I want to show the world there is an underground movement of artists of color doing new styles and creating body art with soul. We are also opening 2 new City of Ink galleries one in Brooklyn NY another in Washington DC. And be on the look out for City of ink clothing.

STAMP: Are there any clients you wish to work with, that you haven’t already?
Miya: Of course I would love to work with Kanye West and redo all his tattoos. He’s dark skin and most tattooers have no clue what to do on his type if skin tone. But I do. I would make him way more flyer. Erykah Badu doesn’t really do tattoos but if she either decides, I hope the people point her my way. I have a style just for her I been working on. Also Pharrell, Andre 3000, Kid Cudi, and some rock bands.

STAMP: What have been your favorite projects to work on to date? Why?
Miya: I don’t have a favorite, but I think this book will be my favorite. It’s going to change my life. And let people see who Miya is compares to “Miya Bailey.”

STAMP: What are your challenges as an artist/tattooist?
Miya: The main challenge is tattooing is staying inspires.. Everyday for the past 18 years I have heard the say tattoo ideas over and over. And each time I have to figure out a way to do each one different from the last one. If my clients wasn’t so cool I would have been stopped
tattooing to focus more films, books, and paintings but the people need me. Until more tattoo artist in America come up with new style of tattooing I will stick around only for the COI supporters.

STAMP: If you have a choice between art galleries and tattoo conventions, what would be your first choice? And why?
Miya: Art Galleries hands down. I personal dong like tattoo convention. I like tattooing people one on one in private. But I tattoo at the conventions to spread the word about the City of Ink Movement and to promote the company as a whole.

STAMP: What role do you feel the internet has on art? Positive or negative?
Miya: I think the Internet plays a positive role in art. Humans are visual so the art can speak for itself and attract you the type of clients you can’t if you were only street marketing. The negative side is now everything think they can be a tattoo artist. It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of being a tattooer but I say leave it to the trained people and if u want to because a professional follow all the right step don’t skip..you will get no respect.

STAMP: Do u feel like your work is evolving?
Miya: My work is evolving everyday. If you study my art & tattoos from the early 90′s to now you can see a big difference. My work now is more dreamy and flows with the curves of the body.

STAMP: What advice would you give a young artist/tattooist just starting or trying to get started?
Miya: My advice to young artist create a NEW style don’t jump in the game with that “tattoo” mind state. Anyone can do a nice tattoo but can you look at the tattoo and tell who did it without asking? To be successful in tattooing in this time you have to be original and stand out. Get a master artist to train you the right way. You can NOT learn tattoo secrets on your own. Get tattooed by the best and ask questions. If no one will train you take a few classes at the tattoo conventions their only $200-$400 per class. Make no excuses do it the right SAFE way or don’t do it at all.

STAMP: What can we expect in the future from you?
Miya: More books, more films, more tattoo shops and art galleries. My goal is to because an art mogul like Russell Simmons did with hip-hop.

STAMP: Do you agree with the overall objective of STAMP Magazine? Why or Why Not?
Miya: Yup I agree!!

To stay up on Miya and his many ventures visit him at http://miyabailey.blogspot.com/. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/miyabailey. Twitter: http://twitter.com/miyabailey.