Meet Monica Lee of Moon Bunny Tattoo in South of Denver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Lee.

Monica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been an artist. Since the day I was handed crayons, I was always drawing. People like to talk a lot about talent in the arts. And though savants are occasionally born, art is mostly practice. And that’s me, I’ve been practicing all my life. I started college as an art major but dropped out. As the only artist in my family, we were taught art was an impractical education. But art as a profession found me! I was living on the Big Island of Hawai’i, mostly being a beach bum and working in the service industry. I ended up serving coffee to a couple of lovely tattooers who gave me a lot of encouragement to pursue the arts. I was so lucky, and it’s beautiful to have folks in your life who believe in your potential even when you can’t see it yourself. And it was perfect timing too, I was in a pretty intense quarter-life crisis. I moved back to Colorado, my home state to apprentice. Apprenticing was acutely difficult but ultimately worth every moment. Tattoo is such a unique art form, it’s part expression and a big part a service to people. I’m humbled daily by it.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, lord no. Tattooing is an intensely difficult art to perform. Even just technically, the tiniest misstep can lead to big ramifications. It takes two years of apprenticing to start, and all of that was unpaid, so I was usually working two other jobs on the side. I look back fondly, but there wasn’t a whole lot of sleep to be had in that time. I think tattooing is one of those unique professions where you become it. It’s all-encompassing in every aspect of my life. I love it with all my heart, but it’s not a gig for the faint. It’s a tough environment to be a woman in. Tattoo is having its own little me too movement right now. Also, I was really lucky to just be a woman, tattoo can be even more difficult for trans and people of color. That’s starting to change, and I’m so grateful.

Moon Bunny Tattoo – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in black and grey. My style has been described as ‘fairy tale’. I love tattooing mythology, folklore, and of course animals and plants. I’m proud to give people something they can wear forever that was made with love. Tattoos can act as a reclamation on one’s body, and I’m really happy to be a part of that. I work in a beautiful queer femme shop called Thistle Witch Tattoo, and we offer a space that’s not just safe but welcoming to all bodies.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m lucky enough to now only do projects I’m excited about. I think the day that was a reality was huge.

Pricing:

• $180/hour

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @MoonBunnyTattoo

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.