The Calgary Tattoo Artist Turning Ink into Living Art

Some artists hang their work on walls.

Tattoo artists create something different. Their art moves through the world with people. It ages with them, travels with them, and becomes part of their identity.

For this VISIBLE interview and photoshoot, I spoke with Calgary tattoo artist Mike Wagler, an artist whose work is helping shape the city’s evolving creative scene. From early sketches and tattoo designs to opening Gallery Underground, Mike’s journey reflects a deep commitment to art. Today, in addition to tattooing, he runs the gallery where he showcases work from local artists, creating a space where Calgary’s creative community can connect and grow.

Growing Up With Art in Calgary

Born and raised in Calgary, Mike still lives in the city today with his wife Carmel and their two sons.

Art has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. As a student, he was among the first group enrolled in the Creative Arts program at Milton Williams Junior High, later continuing in the program at Forest Lawn High School.

What began as drawings and paintings for friends eventually led to something unexpected. Friends started asking him to design tattoo concepts they would later bring to tattoo artists.

Then in 2012, everything shifted. Two close friends gave him a tattoo starter kit as a wedding gift, and through a mutual connection, he was introduced to Colin Wenas, owner of Monkey Skull Arts (now Garuda Tattoo). Colin agreed to mentor him and begin the apprenticeship process as a tattoo artist.

At the time, he was working full-time in sheet metal, a career he stayed in for 17 years while slowly building his tattoo practice on the side. “It was a long haul,” he says. “But I never gave up the dream of creating art for a living.” He credits much of that persistence to his wife, whose support helped make the journey possible.

The Moment Tattooing Became Real

Many artists remember the moment when their work shifts from hobby to possibility.

For him, it happened after completing his first professional tattoo. “I got paid for it,” he says. “And I remember thinking…I can actually do this.”

Sometimes the biggest turning points happen quietly.

Why Tattoo Art Matters

What drew him to tattooing as a medium was its permanence.

“I love the idea that the pieces I create for people stay with them forever,” he explains. “The art doesn’t just get looked at, it gets lived in.” Tattooing has existed for thousands of years across cultures as a way for people to tell stories, express identity, and mark important moments in their lives.

Being part of that tradition means something to him. “Tattoos are deeply personal and culturally timeless,” he says. “And honestly… they’re just cool.”

Tattoos That Stay With People

Over the years, many tattoos have stood out to him for different reasons. Some of the most meaningful are memorial tattoos honouring loved ones or pets that people have lost. “I’m honoured when someone trusts me with something that personal,” he says.

One of his favourite pieces from a creative standpoint was a large skull-and-headdress back piece that eventually became part of a nearly full-body suit for a close friend. Projects like that allow him to build large, evolving works of tattoo art that develop over time.

The Energy of the Calgary Art Scene

One thing that excites him about the contemporary Calgary art scene is how open and experimental it has become.

Artists are no longer waiting for permission to show their work. Exhibitions are appearing in tattoo studios, warehouses, garages, and pop-up galleries across the city. The lines between fine art, street art, and tattoo art are becoming less defined. “It’s messy, it’s experimental, and it’s driven by people who actually care about making something meaningful,” he says. “And that’s what makes it feel alive.”

Art That Has a Pulse

If people take one thing away from his work, he hopes it’s a feeling. “In a world where so much is disposable, I want my work to make people feel something real.”

Whether it’s tattoo art on someone’s skin or artwork hanging on a gallery wall, he believes art should do more than decorate a space.

“It should have a pulse.”

Building a Creative Hub: Gallery Underground

Beyond tattooing, he has also created a space for artists to connect.

He opened Gallery Underground to support local Calgary artists and help create real opportunities for them to share their work. Too often, he says, artists are expected to be grateful for exposure, but exposure doesn’t pay for materials or rent. Gallery Underground is designed to work differently. Artists keep the majority of sales, and the space is built to be welcoming to both creators and collectors.

Events such as art exhibitions, music showcases, and comedy nights bring new audiences into the gallery and help build connections between artists and the community. “When artists have real support, they keep creating,” he says. And when artists support each other, the entire Calgary art community grows stronger.

Because art scenes don’t just appear. They’re built by artists who decide to support each other.

Advice for Emerging Artists

For emerging artists trying to get their work noticed, his advice is simple. Make a lot of work, and make it honest.

Social media can help artists share their work, but it can also push people to chase likes rather than create meaningful art. “Use social media,” he says, “but don’t let it use you.”

Real opportunities, he believes, still happen through in-person connections such as art shows, studios, and conversations with other artists and collectors.

To learn more about other amazing artists, I invite you to browse my VISIBLE Blog.