CHEEKY MA

Artist and self proclaimed "multitalented freak" Cheeky Ma sits down with Interview

DECAL TATTOO MAGAZINE

Dec 13, 2024

Photography by Azra Schorr

Talent Cheeky Ma

What’s your name?

My gov name is Sydney but i go by Cheeky

What’s your sign? Or big 3 if you know it.

Libra, Cancer moon and Gemini rising

What does expression mean to you?

The feeling of freeing energy and emotion and channeling it into physical form.

How many tattoos do you have? Ballpark.

May 60+ not sure

Describe your tattoo style

New age gothic

Which is your favorite?

It’s hard to choose but, my torso piece by @ pandemic_tattoo

Do you regret any of your tattoos?

Yes, 3 from when i was younger, but they’re blasted over now :)

What do your tattoos say about you?

I’m actually such a softy inside, but I think it gives the illusion that i'm tough and scary. It feels like my armor. Most people dont try to fuck with me.

What do you look for when choosing an artist?

Someone I feel comfortable with touching my body and has a personal style i’m into.

How do you decide on what to get?

Some are planned and have meaning, some are just spur of the moment flash that i f*ck with. I once got a tattoo in the middle of a rave by some random, the table was shaking to the beat and the strobe was going, it still turned out great!

What’s your pre-tattoo ritual?

Eat some food, smoke a fat spliff and pull up with a water bottle.

Do you listen to music while getting tattooed?

Yeah

What do you listen to?

Whatever they got playing in the shop

What is your next tattoo?

I’m getting the other side of my stomach filled, the image will be complementary to the one on my left side. That tattoo depicts a woman holding 3 babies to her chest. It was a free-hand tattoo done by one of my dearest friends, Nico Gogan, who devastatingly passed away. It will be 5 years this coming halloween. He was an incredibly talented artist, tattoo artist, and trans community leader/organizer. Nico was such a positive force, all my tattoos from him remind me that life is so precious and too short to not follow your heart.

If you could start over, would you get tattooed the same way or would you do something different?

Maybe I would’ve placed a few things slightly different, but overall I love my tattoos.

Have you ever tattooed someone?

Yes, I used to stick and poke the homies in highschool.