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Astana, Kazakhstan • 01 February 2023

How One Encounter in Boston Led Saltanat to Become a Kazakh Tattoo Artist

Kazakh pop artists like Say Mo and Darkhan Juzz entrust Saltanat with the design of their tattoos

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Saltanat Kuanova
Saltanat Kuanova
Saltanat Kuanova
Saltanat Kuanova

The push from friends

Saltanat Kuanova
Saltanat Kuanova

My mom somehow found the money – she believed in me and knew this was important.

Salta who tattoos Kazakh ornaments

I just asked: "Would you like to get a Kazakh tattoo?" Even though the client was from Brazil and hadn’t any connections to Kazakhstan, he just went, "Okay, let's do it." I designed a Kazakh ornament and it was overwhelming. I came to the States and left a lasting mark. I wasn’t just a tattoo artist – I contributed to our history, to our art.

Saltanat Kuanova
Saltanat Kuanova

Now it’s easier for people to distinguish me as an artist. I’m not just Salta the tattoo artist – I’m Salta who tattoos Kazakh ornaments.

My favorite work is two tattooed “sleeves”. The client put his complete trust in me to do the job from start to finish and I got to make it entirely to my liking
My favorite work is two tattooed “sleeves”. The client put his complete trust in me to do the job from start to finish and I got to make it entirely to my liking

A piece of jewelry

What I appreciate the most about a tattoo is that it “decorates” the body.

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Kazakh Art
Tattoo
Kazakh Ornaments