"As an artist, I feel like I need to be surrounded by beautiful things."
— Katya Krasnova, Founder of Puppy Studio
When we first saw Katya Krasnova’s work, we knew we wanted to create something together. Katya is known around for the world for her tattoo style, which explores themes of the female and feline forms. We met at her downtown Los Angeles studio to talk about what inspires her and how she approached the design for her collaboration with notNeutral.
What drew you to the art of tattooing?
Art was always a part of my life. As a teenager, I was a punk. I loved dying my hair different colors, wearing weird clothing, and piercings. At 19, I left my college to learn tattooing; I never worked anywhere else. Tattooing is one of the most important parts of my life.
How would you define your style of tattooing?
I get inspiration from everything I see around me. Cats and girls are the main motifs in my art. My style has notes of nostalgia and melancholy; it’s minimalist and illustrative.
Tattooing is not your only medium—Can you tell us more about your work as a sculptor?
[My] sculptures are different from what I do in tattoos but still echo each other in some ways. I enjoy using and experimenting with different colors, which I don’t do in tattooing. I call my sculptures “my kids,” and I feel like they reflect my inner teenager.
What was the inspiration behind the design you created for our collaboration?
The main meaning is finding beauty in simplicity. I’m inspired by the things I see around me: some objects that I like or a girl having a walk with her cat, a simple thing like a bobby pin or cup of coffee. The black and white cats chain is my personal favorite.
How does designing art for everyday objects, like a coffee mug, impact the way people connect with your work?
I personally love purchasing cute things for my home from different artists. I also create so many things for myself, from lamps and mugs to even a toothbrush holder. As an artist, I feel like I need to be surrounded by beautiful things. It brings a lot of joy having a cup of tea or coffee from a nice mug. I think it even tastes better :)
