OUR
TEAM
Art + Body Creative Studio offers quality art and design services including custom professional body artistry.
Our artists have diverse professional training and offer a range of art creative specialties. They create art for sale, commissioned art, interior and exterior large projects as well as consultant services.
Our experienced artists offer tattoo specialties in traditional, ta moko, handtap and handpoke, colour, black and grey tattoo, neo-traditional, realism, and traditional.
JULIE
RESIDENT SENIOR ARTIST
Renowed Tā Moko Practitioner, Writer, Contemporary Māori Artist
“Moko to me is a process of connecting each of us through its practice, to the ancient wisdom of our ancestors, so that their mana and mauri may become centred within ourselves” - Julie Paama-Pengelly
Julie (Jules) has 35 years experience with tā moko and has been active as an artist for 40 years. Her post-graduate qualifications in third world development and Māori visual arts uniquely position her understanding of ngā Toi Māori as a cultural practice with the ability to heal trauma.
Jules has firm foundations within customary Māori techniques and design, including uhi tools, but as a progressive multimedia artist she is always challenging the development of her art forms.
Explore More:
BANKO
RESIDENT SENIOR ARTIST
Award Winning Tattoo Artist: Fine, Precision Inkwork, Realism
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Introducing Banko, an acclaimed, multi-style tattoo artist recognized for his elite technical precision and high-caliber custom designs. Currently a featured artist at our studio, Banko has solidified his reputation across the New Zealand ink community as a featured talent at major industry events like the NZ Tattoo & Art Festival. His career is defined by an uncompromising dedication to transforming complex personal stories into permanent visual masterpieces.
KAIWHETU
JUNIOR ARTIST
Junior Tattooist: Blackwork, Dotwork, Sketchwork
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Kaiwhetu brings a fresh perspective and energy to Art + Body. She has a background in carving and visual arts, she has some great ideas across a range of styles.
From bold blackwork to fine dotwork, send through your ideas for Kaiwhetu to turn into your next favorite tattoo!
NESTOR
RESIDENT SENIOR ARTIST
Piercer & Tattoo Artist: Aquarell, New School, Blackwork
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Ness is a dedicated artist with an ethical and multi-style approach to the tattoo practice. His main styles are black and grey, illustrative and watercolors.
Currently as a guest artist in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui
EMILY
JUNIOR ARTIST
Piercer & Tattoo Artist: Crosshatching, Sketchwork, Blackwork
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Emily is an artist from the Waikato. With a background in body piercing, she has a long standing passion for art and body modification and is now furthering her skills with tattooing. Finding her inspiration in the natural world around us and combining it with the techniques of engraving and medieval art, she combines these to bring you unique and eye catching designs.
AMIE
JUNIOR ARTIST
Tattoo Artist: Sketchwork, Crosshatching, Fineline
Trust the process
Amie's style is deeply anchored in classic, illustrative line work. She specialises in fine-line etching and cross-hatching. Her tattoos balance rich, detailed textures with a timeless, storybook aesthetic, transforming delicate drawings into striking, permanent body art.
Her creative process is entirely centered around genuine collaboration. Rather than just handing over a finished flash piece, Amie guides her clients through an interactive design journey.
TE KAWARI
JUNIOR ARTIST
Tā Moko Practitioner: Māori Artist, Tatau
"My goal is to grow not just as an artist, but as a storyteller — creating pieces that hold meaning, identity, and mana for those who wear them."
I’m of Māori and Samoan descent, raised in the beautiful Bay of Plenty — Tauranga, with my whānau based in Te Puna.
Drawing was my first passion, and I’ve always believed that being creative is one of my greatest purposes in life. My style is deeply influenced by my two cultures, expressed through the art I create. It keeps me grounded in Te Ao Māori and connected to my wider Polynesian heritage.
STORMY
GUEST ARTIST
Tā Moko & Tatau, Designer, Illustrator
“I’ve had my whole life where I’ve been able to live off my creativity. But now, it’s more to do with understanding the bigger picture, which is the restoration process...It’s essentially a lifetime devotion to that.” - Stormy Kara
Stormy Kara is from the Cook Islands and is based out of Pacific Ink's Kareha Art Studio in Tumutevarovaro (or more commonly known as Rarotonga). Stormy is an internationally travelling artist in the revitalization of Pacific Ta Tatau, educating those around her about ta tatau, ta moko and history of the Cook Islands.
PAOLO
GUEST ARTIST
Graphic Designer & Tattoo Artist: Blackwork, Neo-Traditional,
"There's something exciting and humbling about putting a piece of art on someone's body permanently. And seeing it come to life is nothing short of mesmerising." - Paolo Alinea
Paolo works full-time as a Studio Creative in Advertising and has been in the industry for over 20 years. For a few years now, he's taken tattooing as his creative outlet and hopes to transition to it permanently (no pun intended) one day. He draws inspiration from his love of Japanese culture and American comic books from when he was younger, and is able to create cohesive pieces that are eye-catching.











