For years, The Hundreds has seen tattoo culture as a source of inspiration for collections and graphic t-shirt flips. It serves us right being from Los Angeles, California where you can spot some of the most intricate pieces of art right on someone’s skin walking down the boardwalk. This is the culture that renowned tattoo artist Elvia Guadian walked into when she moved to California from Guadalajara, Mexico, which only had about three formal tattoo studios at the time. Despite the developing tattoo scene in Guadalajara, curiosity got the best of the artist after becoming a regular visitor to a local tattoo shop that eventually hired her and taught her the basics. Today, the artist has amassed over 100K followers, all in appreciation of her detailed black and grey tattoos.

“I had to pass through many styles of tattoos before I decided I liked black and grey. But I think the defining moment was when I moved to California about 10 years ago. When I decided to immerse myself in Chicano-Mexican culture, I got a better appreciation for the roots and style of tattooing black and grey.”
– Elvia Guadian.

Inspired by Elvia and her work, we invited her to produce a piece to fit in with our Fall 2024 Collection. The Devil’s Whisper graphic represents the duality of good and evil, using the devil, a prevalent symbol in Mexican iconography, as the focus to show a pretty girl listening to advice from a bad place. We caught up with the artist to chat about the story behind the graphic, developing her signature style, and bucket list wishes.  

Grab the Devil’s Whisper Pullover and T-Shirt now on TheHundreds.com, The Hundreds Los Angeles Flagship, and select stockists.

Where did you grow up and how big was the tattoo culture where you grew up?

I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. The tattooing culture wasn’t big at all, I remember there being only 3 formal tattoo studios back then. 

When did you decide that you wanted to tattoo?

I’ve been drawing my whole life, and hanging out with my friends I became a regular at a local shop because I was curious about it. Eventually, they hired me as an assistant, and then as an apprentice. 

What was your process for developing your signature black and grey style? Were you always into those types of tattoos or did the appreciation for them develop over time?

I had to pass through many tattoo styles before deciding I liked black and grey. But I think the defining moment was when I moved to California about 10 years ago. When I decided to immerse myself in Chicano-Mexican culture I got a better appreciation for the roots and style of tattooing black and grey.

Where did the inspiration come from for the graphic “devil’s whisper”?  

The devil is very popular in Mexican iconography. There are a lot of cultural and religious meanings behind it. For me, it represents a symbol of the duality of good and evil. In this graphic, a pretty girl listening to bad advice from the devil.

How many different art mediums have you worked on and how often do you shift through different mediums? 

My art mediums of choice are tattooing and graphite drawings. I would love to master these two before moving on to another medium. But perhaps I would like to try sculpting in the near future. 

What’s on your artist bucket list? 

I have many goals! I would like to have an art studio, sculpt, have a solo show, and publish many more books. 

Growing up in Mexico as a woman delving into tattoo culture, did you face any resistance?

I’m from the second biggest city in Mexico, where there are a lot of American tourists and young people. So being a woman in particular wasn’t an issue, the resistance was more about the subject of my artwork within a conservative and religious community. 

You mentioned that you gained an appreciation for the black and grey style when you moved to California. Was there a tattoo style that was popular in Guadalajara at the time? 

At the time, the most popular styles came from American magazines. Artists were trying to mimic pioneers of American tattooing, with all kinds of styles: Japanese, biomechanic, traditional, tribals – all except for black and grey. That’s why I had to move to learn from the source. 

Where do you tattoo now?

Right now I reside in NYC. I tattoo at a private studio called Grit n Glory, in the heart of West Village. 

Shop the T-shirt and Pullover in our Fall 2024 Collection now :: HERE.