Art has been the cornerstone of Luiz Segatto’s life. Born into a family of artisans and craftsmen; his maternal grandfather was a shoe designer , his uncle, an acclaimed Brazilian furniture maker and interior designer, and his mother a painter of all mediums. It is not surprising that Luiz excels in multiple mediums. However, he is world-renown due to his tattoo expertise.

Luiz began tattooing by hand in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1973, making handmade tattoos with a needle and ink and then made his first tattoo machine with parts from an electric razor. By 1980, he moved up to a professional tattoo machine and was tattooing at street fairs. At 24 years-old he opened his first professional tattoo shop, Tattoo Studio by Luiz Segatto in Sao Paolo, Brazil in 1981. He made his way to the USA by 1984. While in New York City, he worked with tattoo icon Jonathan Shaw, in his underground tattoo shop. Shaw then connected Luiz with world famous, Lou Sciberras, who invited Luiz to work at his shop in Miami Beach “Tattoos by Lou”,

“I went down to Miami on a Sunday, and was working at Tattoos by Lou full time by Monday.” I am very grateful to Lou and his family for the opportunity . After Lou had passed in 1995, Luiz took it upon himself to honor his mentor and opened a shop on Collin’s Ave, called Tattoo Studio by Luiz Segatto. Within a year, he expanded and moved to Washington Ave, where he founded Tattoo Gallery by Luiz Segatto. For thirteen years Luiz had a family run tattoo shop and art gallery with his daughter, Jessica Segatto and son Ariel Segatto. Many of today’s well-known tattooist paid their dues at Tattoo Gallery, and hold Luiz Segatto in high regard for his creative spirit, free-hand skills and old-school work style.

Witnessing the mass commercialization of tattooing, Luiz closed his storefront in 2011 and shifted from full time tattooing to focus on making art and spiritual tattooing. In 2013 he opened a small private studio where he tattoos by appointment only and makes commissioned art, metal works and furniture. Most recently, Luiz has been showcasing his tattooing at international VIP events as well as workshops to engage challenged youth.