Meet Marci Mundo of Evoke Tattoos in West Town and Ukrainian Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marci Mundo.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was 20 years old, it was the summer of 2003. I was just getting back to Chicago after considering the pursuit of formal art schooling in Florida. I had no place to live and very little money to live off of, so I called my uncle that’s known for letting stray family members crash on his couch. One day, I was drawing in my sketchbook and my uncle walked over and said “I think you should try to tattoo. You are always drawing and I just have a feeling you’d be good at it.” I initially just laughed it off thinking he was crazy. At the time, I only had a couple of tattoos and didn’t know much about the industry or how to go about even getting an apprenticeship. I simply brushed off his comment and got on with things — getting a minimum wage job at a pharmaceutical company and trying to make ends meet.

A couple of weeks later, I arrive at my uncle’s place to find a big box waiting for me on the table. It was addressed to me, but clearly, from my uncle, I had no clue what it could be. Low and behold he ordered me all of the equipment and materials I needed to start tattooing. I asked him, “Even if I can figure out how to set this thing up, who am I going to practice on?” My uncle, the crazy, up-for-anything man that he is replied, “Me, you can practice on me, besides look at all these shitty tattoos I already have, who cares if you mess up.” My first tattoo was a spider web on his elbow that I free handed. That man is a trooper…now knowing how excruciating getting your elbow tattooed is and how long he had to sit there while I worked through it.

Over the course of a few months, I was practicing more and more, on my uncle and other family members. I was slowly improving, but if I actually wanted to give this a serious try I would have to find an apprenticeship. I didn’t have money to pay for one, but maybe I could convince someone to give me a shot.

At this time, I had only heard of a few women in the tattoo industry and knew there was only a handful in Chicago. I compiled a portfolio of my artwork and started my search for an apprenticeship. I visited almost every shop in Chicago at the time and was simply getting rejected in the worst ways. It was very discouraging and unsettling, but I was determined. I didn’t want to give up. After visiting a shop, after shop in both the city and suburbs, I finally got my break at a shop in Des Plaines. The woman who owned the shop was the first to stop and take a look at my artwork and ultimately, gave me a chance. This started my career and I couldn’t be more grateful. It was a cosmetic tattoo studio with one artist on staff who I was apprenticing with. After about one year circumstances within the studio shifted and I found myself having to find a new studio to apprentice at.

This led to feelings of disconnection and frustration so I kept working my day job (the minimum wage gig that I was doing all along) until I could figure out what to do next. I found out the guy I was working within Des Plaines went to Tatu Tattoo, one of the few shops in the city I had yet to check out during my apprentice search. I started stopping in from time to time to say hi and hang out. One day, the owner of the shop called me into his office. He asked me why I was hanging around his shop. He told me I either spend money there or get to work. So, I asked if there was something I could work on and he said to just start cleaning. I didn’t hesitate. I got right to work.

I started showing up every day and knew if I could impress him with my work ethic maybe he would let me work there. I started showing up every day doing anything and everything the artists asked — all 17 of them. I busted my ass working there seven days a week, for 10-14 hour shifts and soaking in everything I could about learning to tattoo. I did this for over a year before finally earning a day off. Overall, my apprenticeship was long and hard, very hard and I wanted to quit but knew it would eventually be worth it.

Over the next ten years, I found myself steadily growing as an artist and leader and eventually business owner. There are a lot of people that pushed me along the way, but having a good work ethic and a dream of working for myself made it happen. I try to continuously challenge myself and I have no plans on stopping that growth.

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?
It was definitely not a smooth road. My apprenticeship was long and hard. I met a lot of resistance to anyone wanting to show me anything. It was a lot of trial and error. I didn’t really make any money for the first couple of years. The industry was pretty cutthroat and no one would really give an inch.

I definitely met plenty of men that didn’t want me around and trying really hard to make it known. I was consistently harassed, called demoralizing names, and embarrassed. Although it was rough I wouldn’t trade it. I grew a thick skin and see it as a learning experience that propelled me to where I am today.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Evoke Tattoos – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am currently the co-owner of Evoke Tattoos. My business partner Brooke Michael Englehart and I opened our private studio in February 2018. We are appointment only and provide a comfortable tattoo experience for all. We provide custom tattoos in every style. With my experience working in a street shop for over 13 years, I’ve learned multiple styles. Lately, I’ve been meshing multiple styles into one design, because why not? And, it’s fun to challenge me.

I’m proud that Evoke Tattoos is a product of many years of hard work and sacrifice. We are a shop of few, but we are all close friends and we hope to make everyone that comes there feel welcome and part of our crew.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We just made a big change with opening Evoke. We plan on keeping up the momentum and growing as a business.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2222 West Chicago Ave
• Website: www.evoketattoos.com
• Phone: 773-666-5456
• Email: evoketattoos@gmail.com
• Instagram: @evoketattoos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evoke-Tattoos-342662732884537/

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