BEN PARKER
Words: Candies Deezy Liu / Photography: Sean Hartgrove
Tattooing out of one of Colorado’s most well known custom tattoo studios, Mantra Tattoo,
Ben Parker began taking the craft seriously around 20 years ago. Though he had a rough
start getting into the industry, much like many other tattoo artists during that time, his
passion, drive, and talent shaped him into the tattooist he is today. In 1999, around the
time he knew he wanted to take tattooing more seriously, Ben began an apprenticeship
with Kris Montoya, who would tattoo him in trade for flash art.
After a couple of years, Ben continued to refine his skills on his own. As his tattooing
progressively improved, he found himself expandi