Let me start with my artist, Latisha Wood, several of my friends have recommended her to me and I love all of the work they have had done. From my first contact with Latisha she was great, very organized, passionate and helpful in the design and scheduling process. I sent her a document with several ideas I have for the completion of my sleeve and she dove right in making it her own, her love and passion for what she does is so evident. Once I got to the shop she sketched my first tattoo and then went to work. She has an amazing "soft" touch and you can tell while she's tattooing that she's fully invested in that piece. Her attention to detail and ability to create life life like images is astounding, there's no one better. From fine line work to creative transitions, she is hands down the best. Other artists were even coming over during our session to watch her and ask advice on technique. I can't wait to go back and get going on my next piece. I had been recommended to Vatican Studios by several friends, in particular for artist Latisha Wood. This is my 5th tattoo, all at different shops and by different artists. I have to say Vatican Studios ranks above them all. Extremely clean shop, amazing decour, comfortable and very relaxing environment. The front desk manager was awesome, very accommodating and friendly. She must have asked me if I needed anything 5 times while I was there, from water to coffee, etc. I highly recommend Vatican Studios above any shop that I've been to. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful, all the other artists were saying hi and wanting to see what I was getting done. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I went to go get my belly button peirced here and i'm so happy i did. The actual shop is so fascinating and cool inside and my piercer is extremely talented. I saw him sterilize everything in this awesome machine and he used an original method that he developed for years to pierce me. I genuinely didn't feel any pain except some pressure on the area. read more

This is one of a kind studio, not your typical ghetto looking tattoo studio. Super clean, beautiful is understatement. Ok now about man of the Hour. Mr. Denis. My cousin was the first person who found him and when he got his tattoo I was in love how beautiful and detailed it was. So I booked my appointment with Denis. For years I stopped getting a tattoo because I was looking for someone who was amazing at what they do. Long story short on my 3rd session with Tdan and the man is super professional, very nice, hardworking doenst do justice on his work ethic. To describe his skills...INCREDIBLE. After seeing his tattoos and get tattoos from him I look at other peoples tattoos and I'm like wtf are this people thinking getting tattoos from others. Now my entire family is going to him, 2 of my cousins, my brother and I. Now my uncle wants to get a tattoo by him. One more thing, my dad never liked tattoos and when I got it he was always against it... all that changed when I walked home to show him my tattoo by Denis...he fell In love with it. I showed him the picture of the tattoo and the actual tattoo let's just say tattoo looked better than the actual picture of the tattoo. Denis The Magic Man. I don't get people who complain about high prices. Some of you go spend 2000$ on a shoe wear it few months and forget about it but don't want to spend 2-3k on a tattoo that's gonna be on you rest of your life. read more

I was just recently lucky enough to get a beautiful tattoo by Latisha. I have been wanting black and grey roses for years now and hadn't committed to an artist. Once I saw Latisha's work I knew she was the one. The detail is so spot on. I get stopped daily by someone complementing her art work. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I had a piece done by Zero. Super great guy! Let me start by saying that the piece I wanted was not very big. I went to White Lotus initially and was basically given the cold shoulder. I don't know if it was because they didn't want to waste time for less money or because they were busy, but regardless they immediately ticked me off. I went to Vatican and was greeted by James. Turns out everyone was gone at a convention in Miami, but James took the time to not only talk to me but gave me a quick tour. Their studio is awesome. He then called Zero to see if he could help me, and got me set up for an appointment the next day. Zero is a great artist who clearly takes pride in his work. He took his time on even my small piece and it shows. My tattoo is fabulous and he charged a very fair price. I would highly recommend Zero and Vatican to anyone considering getting a top notch tattoo. I have two other tats from two other places, and I can see a night and day difference in quality. You won't be sorry! read more

Shop is staffed with top notch artist from all over, extremely friendly, clean well maintained atmosphere! Latisha woods has been working on my sleeve for a little over a year, always an amazing time sitting with her!!!! Constantly bouncing ideas off her and she comes through with extraordinary work every single time with out fail!!!! If your looking for amazing ink come in check it out!! You will not be disappointed read more

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This place is clean, comfortable, and absolutely gorgeous. I was tattooed by Devin Mena, and will go to him every time. Every artist there blew me away with the work they had to show. I will go back as often as I can. read more

I've gotten several pieces done by Mando now, including a *very* realistic tarantula, but my favorites have got to be my Jack & Sally. I get soooo many compliments on the detail of these. I started carrying his business cards to hand out because people love his work so much! I had to go back for an extra supply because I ran out! You definitely get what you pay for & I wish I hadn't cheaped out when I was younger. I found my new artist. Definitely work I can be proud of. read more

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Had some work done by Alexis after someone highly recommended him to me. Alexis does more than tattoo as he is a true artist with exceptional vision. His assistant Joshua was very accommodating and helpful. Gotta book him well in advance because he does world travel and is highly sought after. Worth the wait so book him while you can. read more

Vatican Studios - Owl by Alexis - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I wanted to give a major shout out about Alexis Vaatete! I'm in the process of sleeving my left arm with Alexis, not only is he an amazing artist he's a joy to work with. His humble kind demeanor makes the process so much easier sitting thru long sessions getting tattooed. I highly recommend anyone looking for a masterpiece to check him out. Well worth the wait!! Best, Matt A read more

I first came to Vatican Studios in July 2015 to have a lion piece done by Alexis Vaatete. This was my first larger piece and I had a great experience! Alexis was so nice and professional and made me feel very comfortable. After we finished the lion, I made an appointment for December 2015 for an ocean themed piece on my calf. Again, I had an absolutely amazing time at the studio. He provided me with lunch and we listened to great music and passed the time with great conversation. Other artists in the studio would stop by to see the art and chat, but Alexis would continue to stay focused and multitask. I also had the pleasure of meeting his now fiancé and she was such a pleasure to talk with and also keep me a little distracted for the pain haha. Fast forward 4 years later and we are now working on a collaborative piece on my other leg. Nadia now manages Alexis' schedule and she responds to emails quickly, answering any questions. The sessions with Alexis are the same and it has been like catching up with a friend. They both have great energy my experience is nothing short of amazing. People always ask about my work and I always point them in the direction of Vatican Studios because all the artists that work there are such talented artists. You would have no problem finding an artist at this studio to provide you with a stellar piece. Pictured: Lion piece day of in 2015 Heeled freehand ocean piece 4 years after Current collaboration piece read more

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I bailed out of 3 previous attempts to get a tattoo done in the last 10 years so when I finally got up the nerve to walk in the doors to this place, I was trembling. Yes, I'm a chicken. Went in on 8/22 for my first tattoo ever and I loved it. I only chewed through two nails getting it done but I'm so glad I waited for this particular artist. Latisha was great. She made me feel very relaxed and did her best to keep me distracted. I took in a sketch of what I wanted, she helped me pick a needle size and did a few placements. It was a relatively simple tattoo so the process took under an hour. Thanks Latisha! read more

Alexis and Nadia have treated me like family since day one. I started working with Alexis 6 years ago and love all my art work. Nadia always responds quickly and is so helpful. Alexis is an amazing artist and I trust him completely. All my art has healed fast and with no issues. It amazes me how much he can do in just one session. I'm so glad I found this spot. read more

This is my second time coming here. Service is always good and all the artists are top notch with masive amount of talent. I will definitely be back for more. read more

If you want a tattoo you'll love the rest of your life, go see Latisha Wood at Vatican Studios. I would never classify Vatican Studios as a quote unquote "Tattoo Shop". Vatican Studios is an art gallery filled with world class tattoo artist. I had a bland cross on my arm that I got in AZ and Latisha turn that bland cross in to a amazing piece of art. I'm telling you everything that comes out of Vatican Studios could be on the cover of any tattoo magazine. If you care about getting an amazing tattoo you'll have for the rest of your life make a smart choice and go to Latisha Wood at Vatican Studios. read more

Vatican Studios - Artist Latisha Wood. Sorry for the cell phone picture. I just had the praying hands and dog tags with wings added. - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

In search of an artist to do an owl tattoo on my throat, a friend of mine referred me to the Instagram account of Alexis Vaatete. My first impression was total awe at the realism and detail of his work. As I scrolled through his page I soon discovered he does his art freehand! What?! I was thrilled to learn that Vatican Studios is only an hour away from me. I immediately emailed the link on his page and received a response within 24 hours by his booking manager, Nadia. She was polite and proficient in getting me a quote, securing me an appointment, and helping me refine my idea for the amazing piece of art I was about to receive. Although my appointment was about 8 months away, Nadia kept in contact with me through the following weeks and, due to cancellations, was able to get me my first session way ahead of schedule! When I arrived at Vatican studios, the exterior gave little indication of what awaited me inside. Just a regular looking strip-mall. As I stepped out of my car I noticed to my left, that bald guy from instagram (Alexis) and this beautiful woman hopping out of a black, lifted pickup truck. A subtle nod and we realize we're here for the same reason. I was quickly greeted with big smiles and familiar greetings. We walk through the doors together and now I see what this place is really about. Each way I directed my gaze I was met with inspiring art. Over-sized fish tanks and intricate wall art. The ceiling had murals that reminded me of the Sistine Chapel. this place is the real deal! Though I've spent probably hundreds of hours getting tattooed in the past, for this one i felt a bit nervous. Probably anticipating the coming hours of needle-in-the-throat kind of pain I was about to endure. Literally. Alexis put me at ease, first offering me coffee, then showing genuine interest my reasons behind the tattoo. Understanding we were on the same wavelength, he burnt some sage and played music I had mentioned in our conversation. He then spent and hour drawing the tattoo right onto my skin, checking in with me several times to be sure I was happy with the placement. I was not. A better word would be ELATED! This thing laid out better than I could have imagined! So, with a final OK, We got started. Throughout the session, I enjoyed good music and good vibes. It was a really awesome day. Not just a tattoo, but an experience. The full tattoo took three 8 hour sessions and each went as smoothly as the last. We talked about life, spirituality, kids, work.. you name it. I quickly began to feel like I was being tattood by a friend, making the art that much more meaningful. Finally we were done and I have this brilliant symbol that carries deep meaning for me, and looks stunning. I'm deeply grateful to Alexis, Nadia, and Vatican studios for this unforgettable experience. read more

Alexis has been tattooing my back for the past 6 months. His character and professionalism is top notch. He always makes sure that I'm in a position of comfort and is always checking up on me during the "tender" areas. Can not wait to get my back finished to start showing off the masterpiece that he has created. Much respect and love to Lexi and the whole crew at Vatican read more

Latisha Wood is amazing . She freehanded a coverup for me . I was leery for years to get another tattoo and when I checked out Latisha's work I fell in love. If you're looking for a cover-up or beautiful tattoo whether you're male or female go see Latisha she's hands-down the best ! read more

Vatican Studios - Cover up by Latisha Wood - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Vatican Studios is an awesome Shop! The vibe of the studio/shop in is great! I was drawn in by the talent of Carlos Macedo. Carlos is a great young artist. He is working on a complete religious back piece on me. Carlos gave a tour of the Studio/Shop. It is a beautiful place, the owner Franco has put a lot time in making his place a unique experience for it's customers. From the owner Franco to Carlos, London, Latisha and Alexis you can not go wrong by choosing Vatican Stuidos! read more

Chris Borchers is GREAT! Everyone needs to come here, it's very clean and sanitary! I got a tattoo with him and he was amazing, will definitely come back again! read more

Whole experience is great here. Super friendly staff. Thanks again Chris Borchers. You nailed it brother. Big symbolic piece for my Faith in God. Studio is amazing. read more

I've been coming to the Vatican for over ten years and I can honestly say I would never go anywhere else to collect. Franco is an excellent owner and Alexis is one of the best tattoo artists in the world. Alexis is in high demand and has travelled destinations such as Paris, London, and Milan tattoo people who have sought a piece from him. If you want a professional, clean environment, and a outstanding work contact the Vatican and ask for Alexis. You won't be disappointed with your tattoo. read more

This is THE BEST tattoo shop EVER!! The CLEANEST most PROFESSIONAL group of Artists around. I saw a friend of mines multiple tattoos he's had done from a few of the different artists here....and knew i needed to check this place out. TRUST me when I say....after you've been here once...you won't go anywhere else! My daughter and I both got work done by Latisha and she is the bomb We WILL be back..for more as soon as possible! Also just an FYI....this is not a "walk-in" kinda shop. You gotta plan ahead and make an appointment. It is Worh every penny...I PROMISE!! read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Great place! They did my daughter's tattoo. She had a vague idea of what she wanted and he came up with something she loved. She was very pleased with her first tattoo. Only bad thing is, that it was such a good experience for her, she can't wait to get more :-) read more

I get tattooed by Mando, and he is AMAZING! He's so incredibly creative and just knows exactly what you want when he draws up the tattoo! He awesome and I can't wait to get my sleeve with him :-) read more

I've gotten multiple tattoos from Nakota here and had an amazing experience each time. The atmosphere is friendly and cozy; made for very comfortable sessions. Nakota is a great artist, super kind and a kickass chick. I came here for my first tattoo and knew immediately when I talked to Nakota that I'd want to come back; I would recommend this shop to anyone and everyone. Best place in Lake Forest in my opinion. read more

Super clean, beautiful shop. Chris was very nice and thorough. Will definitely be going back.

I would recommend Latisha wood to anybody out there getting a tattoo. She did my lion tattoo and did everything I asked for and more. She's a great person doing really great work. Overall a great experience with her, being able to sit and talk and enjoy getting tattooed. Definitely coming back for more. read more

Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I have been tattooed twice by Armando Saldana and had a great experience both times he is great artist and has really matured into an all around artist. read more

Not your typical tattoo shop! It's absolutely gorgeous, super clean && all the staff and artists are super friendly. I would highly recommend Latisha wood (check out her instagram). Her artwork is unbelievable and is absolutely amazing at what she does. I'm all about the experience when it comes to getting tattooed and she makes an effort to get to know you && understand your passions which then show up in your tattoos. She has truly become a great friend of mine and i always look forward to seeing her! read more

Since I first heard the Above & Beyond Group Therapy album in 2011, it has been a source of strength for me in hard times. I have always struggled with depression and anxiety. That led me down a path of drug abuse and isolation for years. Now I am fully recovered, raising my beautiful 2-year-old daughter on my own, and earning my PhD in Addiction Sciences and Counseling. I finally had a piece done to commemorate that chapter of my life, incorporating the album's artwork. I told Nakota that I loved her heart series, and she drew up an anatomical heart with the ribbons off the album cover holding it together. It is my favorite tattoo and the one I receive the most compliments on. Nakota is an incredibly talented fine artist as well. Overall, I loved my experience at the Vatican. It is a very unique shop and everyone was so friendly! 10/10 would recommend. Thank you Nakota!!! :) read more

Vatican Studios - Group Therapy Tattoo done by Nakota Garza at Vatican Studios - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Chris Borchers is the man. Your go to guy when you're looking for amazing American traditional work. I keep coming back not only because his work is great but the all around experience getting tattooed is top notch. Highly recommend Chris & the shop as a whole! read more

Armando Saldana is a great artist. I've had the pleasure of getting inked by him. Super talented and just an overall good dude. I highly recommend Armando.... read more

Incredible staff! From start to end they make you feel like family. Nakota and Mondo really made my second tattoo experience great! They are both so talented. The facility and tools are all extremely clean. All staff is also VERY professional. read more

My wife wanted a tattoo of her dads name on her. We went to couple places and were not feeling the tattoo artist at all. Franco Vescovi recommended Zero for the piece. When we met him for the first time he was very nice and understood our vision for the tattoo. When we came back for our appointment he already had the piece sketched out and was ready for us. He was very nice and made my wife feel very comfortable being her first time. The piece turned out great, my wife was very happy with it. We recommend Zero and Vatican Studios for your next tattoo. read more

Best tattoo shop by far. Best artists all hand picked to be there. This tattoo shop isn't just some ordinary tattoo shop. They have the best of the best. If your looking for cheap and fast this isn't your joint. Only true artwork comes from these doors. read more

This is an awesome studio and if you are looking for a traditional style tattoo, Chris is the man!! When we met and I gave him the idea of what I wanted I had something already visualized in my head and what he drew up was even sicker than what I could have imagined. Knocked out a half sleeve in a day and it turned out awesome. Got a great deal too but regardless the work you get here is worth every penny. Can't wait to get my next one. read more

Vatican Studios - Traditional style clipper ship and anchor half sleeve done by Chris. - Tattoo Near Me - Lake Forest, California

If you're looking for a cheap looking tattoo don't come here. Had mine done by London and it came out fantastic. The studio doesn't feel or look like any other tattoo shop. It makes you feel like you're home and just having a good time with some new family members. Can't wait to go back to finish my Indiana Jones Lego tattoo. read more

Vatican Studios provided, hands down, the best experience I have ever had getting a tattoo. The receptionist brought me lunch and coffee while I marveled at the splendor of a massive salt water fish tank. For a moment I was sure that I had been teleported to an expensive day spa in Beverly Hills. Additionally, when it comes to tattooing the work provided was fist class. The gorgeous Chris Borchers took a tattoo that I was unhappy with and transformed it into a work of art that I can be proud of. If you are in the market for a tattoo check out Chris Borchers along with the many other amazing tattooers and artists at Vatican Studios. read more

Best tattoo shop I have ever been to ran into alot of the best tattoo Artis is in the world that go there to work thanks macko for this sick ass work 100% read more