KRSTINA TAFOYA | TATTOO ARTIST

Kristina is a compassionate artist, born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her unique style and composition techniques molds together realism, neotraditional, medical and watercolor tattoo styles creating an entirely new approach to tattooing.

Kristina’s passion for art stems from generations of artistic talents. Her mother, Karen Whitmore, a well-known oil painter and step-father, Ron Whitmore, have been very supportive in building her artistic eye. Her father David Huckabee, an Emergency Medical Services Profession for the local college, encouraged Kristina to educate herself very specifically about human anatomy in order to better understand her trade.

She completed apprenticeships with Razor Ray in Las Vegas, New Mexico and with Coulter Prehm of Prehm Studios, a prominent portrait artist and tattooist who studied under World-Famous Tony Ryder. Kristina’s education also included various art classes from portrait/figure to contemporary and color theory, cadaver labs and required First Aid, CPR, Blood-born/Air-born pathogen courses.

Kristina’s love for the tattoo industry began at a very young age and she’s been “drawing” on her friends in Elementary school.

Kristina’s tattoo expertise includes cover-ups, tattoo rejuvenation, working with Skin Traumas, and her custom tattoo creation.

Kristina served on the board of Body Art Practitioners for the State of New Mexico from October 2019 - March 2025 as chairman. She also served as chairman of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists (APT) Education Committee, and currently still serves on the committee but has since stepped down as chairman.

“ The most rewarding part of giving someone a beautiful tattoo is seeing the life of confidence and spirit of each individual. I truly love healing through my craft.”