ADI MIZRAHI

If your work had a fragrance, which perfume would it smell like?

Le Labo Santal 33. It’s subtle but distinctive, timeless, and has a quiet presence that stays with you, which is how I like my work to feel.

You’re given the keys to any historic home, museum, or architectural You’re given the keys to any historic home, museum, or architectural masterpiece for one night. Where are you spending the evening, what draws you there?

Venice, without a doubt. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The historic buildings and the museums (especially the Leonardo da Vinci Museum) completely stayed with me. I remember walking through the city and genuinely feeling like every few steps took my breath away. There’s something magical about all the history, art, architecture, and the little details everywhere you look. I could spend hours just observing them.

What’s one luxury purchase you’ve made that wasn’t practical at all What’s one luxury purchase you’ve made that wasn’t practical at all but completely transformed how you live or create?

After years of hard work, I bought myself a Rolex I had dreamed about for a long time. I definitely didn’t need it, but for me, it represented a milestone. I wanted to reward myself for all the hard work, consistency, and responsibility it took to get where I am. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of how far I’ve come and that I did it on my own. It gives me a little sense of pride, and that makes it much more meaningful to me than just a watch.

If you could tattoo one completely impossible thing, not a design, but an emotion, memory, or human experience, what would it be?

A deep longing for someone who is no longer here. Not just the feeling of missing them, but the memory of everything you shared: the journey, the experiences, the laughter, the pain, and how deeply important and precious that person was to you. I think if you could somehow capture all of that in a tattoo, it would be incredibly powerful.

Tattoos have evolved from rebellion to luxury, from underground culture to high fashion. What do you hope the industry never loses as it continues to grow?

I hope it never loses the human connection between the artist and the client. The individuality, the creativity, the story behind each tattoo. Those are the things that make tattooing so special to me. At the end of the day, we’re creating something deeply personal that will stay on someone’s body for life, and there’s an exchange of energy in that process. It’s very intimate. Sometimes I think about a future where robots could be doing tattoos, and honestly, that scares me a little. I really hope tattooing always keeps the emotion and human connection that make the experience so meaningful.

If someone wanted to understand your taste in under a minute, which five brands, whether fashion, furniture, cars, hotels, watches, or objects, would you show them?

Prada, Prada, Prada … and Prada. LOL. Almost everything I wear is black, and I know my appearance can sometimes come across as a little intimidating. Maybe that’s also my way of protecting myself sometimes. I’ve always loved Prada’s aesthetic. It feels strong, clean, minimal, and a little mysterious, which I really connect with.

If every tattoo you’ve ever created disappeared overnight except one, which would you choose to preserve, and why?

An ornamental sun piece I created across a client’s entire back and lower body. She trusted me completely, and I gave 100 percent of myself to creating it from scratch based on her vision. She was 46 and understandably a little nervous about committing to such a large piece, but she gave me so much creative freedom. The final tattoo is very delicate but, at the same time, incredibly powerful. I’m still so proud of how it turned out, and the trust behind it made the whole experience even more special to me.