Master tattoo artist is drawn to Pasadena Aug. 16-22, with a story to tell

Modern tattoo master Dillon Forte’s canvas has included all of the above. A self-described “narrator of stories,” Forte is considered one of the world’s leading sacred geometry tattoo artists, to whom work is meditation. His creations blend art, symbolism, mathematics in patterns found in nature and architecture.

One of the most recognizable names of modern tattooing will be in Pasadena for a guest residency from Aug. 16-22 at 444SVT, also known as Sacred Vessel Tattoo, 444 S. Fair Oaks Avenue. It is an appointment-only studio led by Master Svietliy, also known as Alarn Sod Sai, who offers sacred and traditional tattooing with spiritual practices.

“I think people get into tattoos for a lot of different reasons, but underneath it there’s usually some kind of personal meaning or story to tell,” Forte said. “Sometimes it’s identity, memory, transformation, fashion, rebellion, spirituality, religion, or just wanting to mark a certain time in life.”

Even as tattoos have become more mainstream, they still have always had this connection to ritual and storytelling, Forte added.

“People want something that feels like it belongs to them, and when it’s done right, a tattoo can become a really powerful reminder of who you are or what you’ve been through”

Who Forte is began in Northern California, where the 39-year-old was born and raised. He was an avid skateboarder steeped in the NorCal culture of the 2000s.

“The first tattoo I did was a little candle on my own ankle,” Forte remembers. “I was messing around with equipment, of course, the wrong way, and I wanted to figure it out before inking other people. I guess symbolically you could say it was to illuminate my path, but honestly I don’t remember if I was thinking that deeply about it at the time.”

He barely knew what he was doing and didn’t even have all the proper parts on the machine.

“I’m honestly surprised it’s still there,” Forte said. “But that’s part of the story too, you start somewhere, and then you just keep learning and getting better. I ended up taking an apprenticeship shortly after and knew pretty quickly this was my calling.”

Forte, who lives in Texas with his family, said his Pasadena residency is a homecoming since Los Angeles is where his career began. He apprenticed at Telegraph Tattoo in Berkeley and stayed true to his geometric designs. In 2012, he tatted artist Kat Von D. Actor Chris Helmsworth flew him to Morocco while he was filming “Men In Black: International,” and requested his services again in Los Angeles.

Imagine Dragons bassist Ben McKee got a full sleeve design. And Usher’s intricate head-to-neck tattoo, created by Forte in 2019, was a nod to spiritual transformation, a geometric pattern that symbolized a navigation tool.

It’s all about meaning for Forte, who said he likes to talk with clients on designs that reflect their personal stories or life transitions.

“For a lot of my clients, they are marking a spiritual occasion in their life and going through a personal or spiritual sort of transformation,” he said. “Despite what many may think, most of my clients know what type of design they want before they get to the studio and I just help them bring it to life. Sometimes clients will have me come up with the full idea, but more often than not, they know what they want, and there’s a deep personal story or meaning to what they are getting.”

Forte’s search for meaning and patterns has led him to tattoo on sailboats in Indonesia, above the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, and even inside the King’s Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. He completed the highest tattoo in history, inking in the thin, freezing air of the Himalayas, at the base camp of Mt. Everest. He has also completed the lowest tattoo, beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.

Geography brings a whole new level to a tattoo, Forte said. He usually brings or sources tattoo equipment on his trips so he is prepared for anything. His “underwater” tattoo was done at The Muraka, an underwater hotel at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

Forte basically had to quickly tattoo himself inside the King’s Chamber, but he really wanted to do it since the location of the pyramids hold deep meaning in relation to the rest of the world, he said.

“Some believe these sites are almost like energy points or anchors, where these ancient structures are connected across the world through sacred geometry,” Forte said. “There’s something really interesting about how these civilizations built using math, alignment, and intention on that kind of scale. It’s really cool stuff for those interested in reading more into those theories. Ultimately, it was amazing to be there and have a tattoo from inside the pyramid that I’ll remember forever.”

The Everest tattoo was unplanned. Forte said he left his wallet in a cab, and when the driver returned it, his impromptu reward was a helicopter ride with Forte to base camp, where the artist gave him a tattoo.

“Sometimes life is all about the story, just go for it, right?” Forte said. “Let’s just say nobody else was getting tatted at base camp that day.

Always, it’s about finding the connections among different spiritual traditions and rituals, and discovering how sacred geometry can be found in ancient temples, architecture and traditional art.

Bowing to ancient wisdom doesn’t mean Forte isn’t interested in innovation, though. He came up with the Sacred Geometry drawing app, a mobile and desktop tool that can produce intricate, symmetrical patterns. He also produced Forte Tattoo Tech, a line of eco-friendly, biodegradable tattoo supplies made from sugar cane, hemp and bamboo.

During his time in Pasadena, Forte is looking forward to reliving past visits.

“Pasadena has always had a cool mix of history, architecture, art, and old California energy, which I really appreciate,” he said. “I’m drawn to places that have character and don’t feel like they were just built yesterday, and Pasadena definitely has that culture and vibe. There’s a strong creative and cultural side to the city, and it feels a little more grounded than some parts of Los Angeles. For me, coming there for this residency is exciting because it feels like the right kind of environment for the work I do.”