Meet Gary Parisi of Mayday Tattoo Co. in Noble Square

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Parisi.

Gary, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From as early as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a tattoo artist. From drawing on my friends with markers and pens, to graffiti on the walls, I’ve been making my mark in Chicago starting at a young age. I started tattooing at the ripe age of 17 years old, under the wing of a great mentor and phenomenal artist Mike Curuz. Without this man, I would not be where I am today. I worked under Mike for about a year, grinding and absorbing knowledge and then branched off on my own. I worked a few years tattooing free-lance while I worked as a house painter, then a garbage truck mechanic while I fine-tuned my craft as a tattooer. A few years on my journey I went to work as a full time tattooer at the World Famous Jade Dragon Tattoo under the late great Fat Joe R.I.P I continued to absorb even more knowledge from the genius who was Fat Joe leading from his Business sense for the industry. My journey continues after leaving Jade Dragon following the passing of Fat Joe to open my own shop and start my Empire opening the first shop in the Gold Coast/ Downtown area called Windy City Ink. I endured a lot of trials and tribulations by going into Business for myself which was huge feet all in its own. As I continued to pour everything I had in to my dream shop, I crossed paths and met Pony Lawson. A great artist and humble person. He stuck it out with me through thick and thin where I learned of his loyalty and values of a true friend who had my back, and that’s super hard to come by in life. Long story short, Pony and I put our heads together to start fresh, bring new standards to the industry and start and empire together opening up the now World Famous Award Winning Mayday Tattoo Co. just outside Downtown Chicago. We put together an elite team of the best of the best artists you can find in Chicago and started a family of all award winning tattooers taking the world by storm. Learning from each other every day, pushing each other to be better than we were the day before, making Mayday Tattoo Co. the go to place in Chicago for fine tattoo art. This is where my journey continues on a learning adventure to be the best tattooer I can be for the people who appreciate my art and the art of my team.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Everyone has struggles, life wouldn’t be life without them. Some of the biggest struggles I had to deal with were losing my Dad when I was like 23 years to a heart attack when he was the young age of 47. He was a huge inspiration in my life as well and I feel like I continue trying to make him proud by being a humble person and a great father to my daughter Elliyah and the best husband I could be to my amazing wife Gina, which are both my anchor and the air I breathe, without them I don’t know where I would be today. Another struggle that I am suffering from is the passing of my big sister Georgia whom passed away also from a heart attack at the same young age as my father, 47. She was also a huge part of my life, from teaching how to swim and ride a bike, but also started me on my journey as an artist teaching how to draw ever since I was able to hold a pencil. She was an amazing woman and I miss her dearly.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Mayday Tattoo Co. story. Tell us more about the business.
My company is Mayday Tattoo Co. Chicago’s premier World Famous Award Winning Tattoo studio of elite artists. Where I am Co-Owner alongside the great Pony Lawson. I specialize in Photorealistic Tattooing as well as cover ups, but it doesn’t stop there. I can tattoo anything, any style, from lettering to traditional tattooing to portraits and eye popping realism. Our shop is known for being the best tattoo shop in Chicago for having a team of all award-winning tattoo artist who specialize in every aspect of art imaginable. Our work speaks for its self.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been lucky or fortunate enough to learn from and surround myself with amazing artists through my career molding me into the person and the artist I am today. Without tattooing, only God knows where I would be today and what role in life I would be. I owe everything to this industry and my craft, and I’m lucky and fortunate enough to be doing something I absolutely love doing with all my heart and soul.

Contact Info:

• Address: Mayday Tattoo Co.
  1610 W Grand Ave.,
  Chicago, IL 60622
• Website: www.maydaytattooco.com
• Phone: 312-496-3335
• Email: info@maydaytattooco.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/@maydaytattooco
• Facebook: Facebook.com/maydaytattooco
• Twitter: twitter.com/@maydaytattooco

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.