Today we’d like to introduce you to Kree Villegas.
Hi Kree, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been an artist since I can remember. Always been obsessed with Egyptian art & eyes since I was smaller. I really started pursuing painting when I was a teen, 13ish to be exact. As soon as I went to high school, I joined art. (of course) I then met my soon to be art instructor Alex Rubio, he told me to join the mosaic program, at Blue Star Contemporary Art, with him and other high school students who were trying to learn about the art business!
During that time, I started doing slam poetry, in my downtime. So, there I went, every day after school. Dedicated to my craft. Sold my first 1,000$ piece at the age of 16. When I started tattooing, too! Of course, I started out semi ghetto life… out of the house, scratching people up lol. Then went to my first shop at 17. Where they fired me for being annoying (I later found out in my early twenties lol).
During that time, I was competing in a fresh ink youth slam team where I won with other poets to go to a national youth slam team event in California. The event I attended was called Brave New Voices.
We didn’t win, but man it was the best week of my life… 1000 poets under a dorm for a week, so many workshops, so many events, constant ciphers everywhere I went. So amazing, and I’ll never forget it. After, I went to my first permanent shop at 18! stayed there for 2 years then hopped around for a while trying to find my perfect fit. I’ve played for tons of Hip Hop acts along the way, RA the Rugged Man, Killah Priest, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Geto boys, Nappy roots, Immortal technique, Deltron 3030, Reverie, Aceyalone, & many more.
Now I’m 27 and have a private studio space I work out of. With multiple trades under my belt. Now taking my music seriously because I have money to invest in myself. I can tell this year is going to change me, because now I finally have everything I need to succeed, and I won’t be stopping anytime soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road, because being a woman in all-male industries has been extremely hard, to prove myself over and over again.
As well as dealing with an addicted dad whom I lost to the streets. It made me drop out of college because I couldn’t handle it, but instead gripped my craft by the throat and hustled immensely to get where I’m at now.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do tattoos, I create jewelry, I make music, just started Henna & Tooth Gems. I specialize in trippy design work and Geometric designs in my tattoo stuff. In my jewelry, I specialize in wire wrapping stones & Orgonite EMF protection necklaces & soon to be going to school for nails.
I create everything from a place of love and healing, and I hope when I make it big, I can help out my community release what they need to in art/music. When I’m not in a good headspace, I won’t create until I’m better all around. I believe everything is energy including my tattoo work.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a tomboy! Super into sports & band. listening to nothing but rock… I played the saxophone for 4 years, & soccer/ basketball!
I’ve always been really energetic since I was a kid & now… lol.
Pricing:
- 150$ and up on tattoo work
- 55$ and up on jewelry work
- Canvases vary on pricing.
Contact Info:
- Email: kree23mc@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Kree23
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/kree23
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/kree23
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIKTFdeia5vM5SOeXC8m1Hw
- SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/kree23
- Other: kree23.bigcartel.com
Image Credits
@luciid_daviid
