Moving the needle with bold, modern craftsmanship.

Alex Otero — blackwork & dotwork specialist.

Born in Mexico and surrounded by a family of artists, I was inspired by my culture to draw and paint from a young age. After moving to Canada, I struggled for years before finding recovery, where my passion for art resurfaced through graffiti and painting.

My first tattoos were rough, and when one of them caught the eye of legendary artist John Dutchman, he bluntly said: “Alex, the counsellor? Tell him to stick to counseling.” Instead of letting that discourage me, I took it as motivation. I went to John’s studio, and he offered me a deal: if I supported a guest artist from Mexico who was in early recovery, he would teach me about the history and process of tattooing. That moment marked the true beginning of my journey.

Since then, I’ve worked in several studios and eventually co-founded Mexart Therapy with my close friend and mentor, Israel Aguayo. I’ve also been invited to guest spot in cities across Mexico and Canada.

Tattooing is now more than just art for me — it’s my passion and my therapy. I continue to approach every piece with curiosity, gratitude, and respect for the craft, and I love sharing that with each person who walks into my space.