Alicia Vasquez is a Cleveland-based visual artist, tattoo artist, and muralist whose work is deeply inspired by the natural world, spirituality, and human connection. Through intricate patterns, botanical elements, ornamental design, and organic textures, her artwork explores themes of unity, transformation, and interconnectedness. Her artistic style blends earthy elegance with fine detail, drawing influence from Art Nouveau, nature, multicultural identity, and sacred symbolism.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Alicia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Growing up within a richly diverse multicultural background of Puerto Rican and African American Creole heritage, her work became rooted in storytelling, cultural appreciation, and the beauty found within both nature and shared human experience.
Alicia works professionally across multiple artistic mediums including tattooing, mural work, painting, illustration, and pyrography (wood burning). Known for her refined ornamental compositions and nature-inspired aesthetic, she specializes in creating custom artwork that feels both intentional and deeply personal — whether through fine line tattooing, large-scale murals, hand-burned wood art, or original paintings.
In April 2024, Alicia opened White Lotus Art Gallery and Tattoo, her private appointment-based tattoo studio and gallery space located inside Cleveland’s historic 78th Street Studios. The studio was created as an immersive artistic environment where clients can experience tattooing and fine art in a calm, intimate, and thoughtfully curated setting.
Her recent public art contributions include mural works such as Heart of Gold at MetroHealth Hospital, as well as participation in the Cleveland RTA’s Elevate the East Woodhill and Buckeye mural initiative.
Outside of the studio, Alicia finds inspiration through hiking, trail running, traveling, meditation, bookstores, herbal teas, and time spent in nature — experiences that continue to influence the grounded and organic essence woven throughout her work.
About
My name is Alicia Vasquez
Artist, Tattoo Artist, Nature Lover , Dreamer
Education
The Cleveland Institute of Art 2007-2011
Bachelor of Arts B.F.A. Illustration
Exhibitions/Showings
Feb 2025 Villain Arts Cleveland Tattoo Convention, Huntington Convention Center, Cleveland, OH
Sep 2024-Jan 2025 Agua, Vida y Tierra, La Promesa Arts Show, Cleveland City Hall, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2023 Solo Show- Unfolded Exhibit, FIG Arts Gallery Center, Pivot Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Dec 2022 Holiday Art Exhibit, FIG Arts Gallery Center, Pivot Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Mar 2022 Women in Print Exhibit, FIG Arts Gallery Center, Pivot Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Jul 2022 Beautiful American Princess, SheArt Exhibit Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Deep Roots Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2021 Black Medusa Warrior, Skateboard Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Red Lion Tattoos, Cleveland, OH
April 2021 Kicks, Spliffs, Flicks Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Red Lion Tattoos, Cleveland, OH
April 2021 Signs of Times Exhibit, Metrohealth, L.A.N.D Studios, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit, Julia de Burgos Arts Center House Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Art at a Distance Drive by Exhibit, Lincoln West High School, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2019 Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, Roberto Clemente Park, Cleveland, OH
July 2019 Latin Arts and Culture Festival Exhibit, Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
April 2017 Arts in Bloom Exhibit, McKinney Performing Arts Center, McKinney, TX
Mar 2017 Birds, Cats, Skulls Exhibit, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Feb 2017 For the Love of Artists Exhibit, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Jun 2016 Holistic Festival of Life, Plano Civic Center, Plano, TX
Mar 2015 Dallas Public Library Annual Arts Exhibit, Dallas Public Library, Dallas, TX
April 2015 Arts in Bloom Exhibit, McKinney Performing Arts Center, McKinney, TX
May 2015 Pancakes and Booze Art show, Quixotic World, Dallas, TX
Dec 2015 Dallas Raw Artists, Holiday Rawk art exhibit, Gas Monkey Live, Dallas Texas
Grants/Awards
Aug 2023 SPACES Gallery Urgent Art fund grant
Mar 2021 Julia de Burgos Arts Center/ Unidos por el Arte artist residency grant
June 2020 Puerto Rican Museum of Art artist’s grant
May 2020 SPACES Gallery Cuyahoga artists Satellite Fund grant
Oct 2019 Kaman’s Art Shoppes Elite Artist (Top sales in nation)
Jul 2018 Kaman’s Art Shoppes Elite Artist (Top sales in nation)
April 2017 McKinney Performing Arts Center National Award -top 6 finalist large scale work prize
2007-2011 Albert K. Murray Fine Arts Scholarship Award
2007-2011 Cleveland Institute of Art Portfolio Prize Scholarship
2011 Susan Lipmann Illustration Department Scholarship
April 2010 University Hospitals Heart and Vascular Institute art prize
Mar 2009 The Cleveland Clinic Expressions arts and sciences integration program 2 blue ribbons and best in show art prize
Murals/Public Art projects
Jun 2025 Mural, Transformative Arts Fund, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2024 "Elevate the East" Mural, RTA, L.A.N.D. Studios, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2024 Live Painting Mural, Akron Latin Fest, Downtown Akron, OH
Sep 2024 The Agriculture Park Bench Mural, Canvus, Avon Lake, OH
Sep 2023 Renner Otto Cafe Mural, Renner Otto Law Firm, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2023 The Dragonfly and the Sky Park Bench Project, Canvus, Avon Lake, OH
July 2023 Youngstown Walmart Mural Project, NOW Arts Agency, Youngstown, OH
June 2023 Brooklyn Walmart Mural Project, NOW Arts Agency, Brooklyn, OH
May 2023 Peacock Feathers Mural Project, Assembly Arts Annual Ball, Cleveland, OH
Apr 2023 Mushroom Electrical Box, Shaker Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
Mar 2023 Taj Mahal Mural Project, Residential Home, Cleveland, OH
Feb 2023 Hispanic Heritage Poster Illustration Project, F.I.G, Future Ink Graphics, Cleveland, OH
Dec 2022 Three Kings Day Poster Illustration Project, F.I.G, Future Ink Graphics, Cleveland, OH
Dec 2022 Together We Shine Mural, Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Poster Illustration, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, F.I.G, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2022 MetroWest Community Pole Banners, Metro Health, MetroWest, L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Sep 2022 Heart of Gold Mural, Metro Health Hospital, MetroWest, L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2022 Sun and Moon Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
June 2022 Community Utopia Mural -Scranton Castle Center, Metro Health L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Feb 2022 Lady in Green mural, Metrowest org, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2021-Feb 2022 Hear Me Roar Public Town Square Mural, L.A.N.D Studios, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2021 Things that Fly Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
Oct 2020 Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
Sept 2020 Black and Brown in Red Mural, Julia De Burgo Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Lost In Space Mural, MetroWest Community Development Org, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2018 Sincerity Hands Mural, Secure Lending Inc, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2016 Murals of Colombia, Mi Pueblito Colombiano Restaurant, Garland, TX
Nov 2014 Beautiful Dreams Campaign, Imme org, Dallas, TX
Collections (Public, Corporate, Private)
June 2021 Stars of the Universe, Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center private collection, Cleveland, OH
June 2020 Black, Brown, and Red Artist collaborative mural, Julia de Burgos Arts Center private collection, Cleveland, OH
June 2016 2 Corinthians 4:15, Watermark Community Church youth center private collection, Dallas, TX
April 2010 Renacer, University Hospitals Heart and Vascular Institute private collection, Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 2009 Desolation, The Cleveland Clinic private collection, Cleveland, Ohio
Publications and Website Publications
Dec 2022 Freshwater Cleveland, Together We Shine Mural feature, https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/PlayhouseSquareMural011123.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1qGIe4QrQwEKlKd2T8IogN5gbFSlC6kTdD04afHD3bQ877FPbHkFoPqwI&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Dec 2022 Wkyc channel 3, Together We Shine Mural feature, https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/first-look/mural-more-than-100-feet-long-commemorates-playhouse-square-100th-anniversary-exclusive-first-look-alicia-vasquez-nathalie-bermudez/95-84b1aebf-00bc-4bef-a1e9-f7711fae0e81
April 2021 Shaker Life Magazine Spring 2021 Issue, Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box Design feature
April 2021 Shaker Arts Council, Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box Design website feature, https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/norwood-chagrin.html
Oct 2020 CAN Journal Fall 2020 Issue, Artists Spotlight Interview, http://canjournal.org/2021/08/creative-fusion-metrohealth-signs-of-the-times/
Related and Teaching Experience
Related Experience
Sep 2023-Present Tattoo Artist/Owner, White Lotus Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio, Cleveland, OH
June 2021-Apr 2023 Tattoo Artist, Distinctive Tattoo Studios, Willoughby Hills, OH
Nov 2022 Illustration Juror, Scholastics Art and Writing Awards, Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, New York, NY
2017-2020 Graphic Designer, The Creative Group; Robert Half, Cleveland, OH
2017-2020 Sr. Supervisor / Lead face painting artist, Kaman’s Art Shoppes, Akron, OH
2014-2017 Caricature Artist, Kaman’s Art Shoppes, Dallas, TX
Teaching Experience
2022 Continuing Education Art Teacher. Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, OH
2019-2020 Substitute Art Teacher. Shaker Heights District, Shaker Heights, OH
2019-2019 Art Coordinator. Achievement Centers for Children, Strongsville, OH
2018-2019 Teaching Artist. Shaker Heights Recreation Department, Shaker Heights, OH
2016-2018 Grumbacher Art Instructor. Michaels Craft Store, Plano, TX- Shaker Heights, OH
2017-2017 Art Instructor. One River School of Art and Design, Frisco, TX
2015-2016 Assistant Art Teacher, McKinney ISD, McKinney, TX
Gallery Affiliation(s)
Deeproots Gallery, Cleveland, OH
FIG/ Future Ink Graphics Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Julia de Burgos Arts Center House Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Elevate! Gallery, Dallas, TX
Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
ArtLoveMagic, Dallas, TX
Art House of McKinney, McKinney, TX