Meet Sayulita’s New Tattoo Artist, Philly B.

Sayulita has a new Tattoo Artist! Phill Bartell, known to his friends and clients as Philly B., has been tattooing since 1996, making this his twentieth year in the industry. He learned to tattoo through a traditional apprenticeship at The Ink Spot in New Jersey, USA, but made a name for himself working in Boulder, Colorado, over the past fifteen years. Though he still owns a large tattoo shop and art gallery in Colorado, he recently relocated with his wife and two kids to Bucerias, just south of Sayulita.

A casual visit to Sayulita last spring brought Philly B. face to face with Chops Papillon, another veteran in the tattoo world and owner of Papillon Family Studios. A friendship was born and it was clear they should work together to provide world-class tattooing in Sayulita.  He says he “felt a strong connection to the people who call Sayulita home, and was drawn to the international flavor and aesthetic of the town.”

Philly B. specializes in custom tattoos that incorporate fine-line detail with bold colors and images, and is somewhat of a cover-up genius. He’s spent years studying the Tibetan art of Thangka painting and thus much of his work incorporates an approach and style of that ancient Asian lineage.

Philly B. has a gentle demeanor and a keen eye and most enjoys working closely with his clientele to produce unique, custom pieces. He has traveled the globe tattooing, slinging ink in remote places like Nairobi, Kenya and Kathmandu, Nepal, but has also worked in some of the top shops in New York and San Francisco, CA. Philly B. is also passionate about making the world better and more colorful and has spent years campaigning for Tibetan freedom, which landed him in Chinese prison in 2008! He also works closely with P.Ink, an organization that provides free tattoos for breast cancer survivors wanting to cover up surgery scars.

Philly B. starts working with Chops at Papillon Family Studios on Av. Revolución this month and is excited to meet more of the Sayulita community and create some killer tattoos. For examples of his work, follow him on Instagram here or or visit his website here. 

To book an appointment with Philly B. in Sayulita call (+52) 322 171 2757, or just stop by Papillon Family Studios and welcome him to the neighborhood.

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